Building Vocabulary Through Everyday Activities

Angela Comer-Lam
Aug 19
2 min read

August 8th, 2025

After years of teaching, I’ve learned that some of the best language lessons happen outside the classroom. In fact, some of the richest vocabulary-building moments come from everyday routines—right at home, in the car, or even at the supermarket!

Today, I want to share some simple, practical ways you can naturally boost your child’s English vocabulary as you go about your day. No extra time or materials needed—just a little awareness and a dash of creativity!

1. Cooking Together

Whether you’re preparing a quick breakfast or a family dinner, the kitchen is full of fantastic words!

Talk through the steps: “First, we crack the eggs. Next, we whisk them.”
Name and describe ingredients: “This is spinach. It’s green and leafy.”
Use action words: “Stir,” “pour,” “slice,” “sprinkle.”

You can even let your child be the “chef” and give you instructions using new words!

2. Shopping Time = Talking Time

Grocery stores are a treasure trove for language learning:

Spot and name items: “Can you find the apples? What colour are they?”
Talk about choices: “Should we pick the crunchy carrots or the soft tomatoes?”
Use numbers and categories: “Let’s get six bananas. Can you find the dairy section?”

Don’t rush—let your child ask questions and explore new words as you go.

3. Play is Powerful

Playtime is perfect for introducing new words:

Describe toys and actions: “The truck is enormous!” or “Let’s build a tall tower.”
Invent stories: “What if your teddy could talk? What would it say?”
Play pretend: “Let’s pretend we’re at the zoo. What animals can we see?”

The more you talk, the more your child’s vocabulary grows!

4. Bath Time Words

Even bath time is a chance for learning:

Talk about temperature and textures: “Is the water warm or cold?” “The sponge is squishy.”
Name and count bath toys: “One duck, two boats…”
Describe actions: “Splash! Pour! Float!”

A Little Goes a Long Way

You don’t need to “teach” every moment—just talk, listen, and enjoy the conversation. The more words your child hears and uses, the stronger their vocabulary becomes.

If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to hear how it goes! And if you have your own tips, hit reply and share them with me—I’m always inspired by your stories.

Next week, I’ll be sharing ways to encourage storytelling at home so your child can use all these wonderful new words in creative ways. Stay tuned!

Warm regards,

Angela

Easy English for Kids