Storytime Magic
Reading is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to encounter new words. Help your child to choose stories with vibrant language and engaging plots that naturally introduce exciting vocabulary. While audiobooks don't have the added benefit of helping with spelling and punctuation, they are arguably just as good as "real" books at improving vocabulary, so definitely shouldn’t be scoffed at. (They also make traffic jams more bearable!)
At the bottom of this article, we’ve given you a recommended reading list, with some of our own favourite books for 8 to 10 year olds, so jot down a few titles, and head off to your nearest library!
Tip: Let your child follow the text in a physical copy while listening to an audiobook. Seeing and hearing a word simultaneously reinforces both spelling and pronunciation.
Word Games
There are plenty of games that can turn vocabulary building into a fun activity. Here are a few of our favourites:
• Word Hunt: Pick a category (eg. items of clothing, foods, emotions). Give your child 60 seconds to list as many words as possible. Each new, unusual word earns extra points.
• Describe and Guess: Write down new words on cards. Take turns describing the word without saying it, while the other person guesses.
• Vocabulary Charades: Act out words from your child's current reading book - funny gestures are guaranteed to boost memory!
On-the-Go Word Games: Car-Friendly Fun
Long journey ahead? No problem. These games need zero equipment and keep everyone (even the driver!) entertained:
• Word Snap: Like the classic card game – but instead of matching pictures, snap whenever two consecutive spoken words share a feature (same first letter, rhyme, number of syllables, etc.).
• Alphabet Categories: Starting with A, players take turns naming a word from an agreed category (eg. animals) in alphabetical order: antelope, badger, crocodile… and so on.
• I Spy (Vocabulary Edition): Instead of "something beginning with…", give a descriptive clue using a juicy adjective: “I spy with my little eye something sparkling” – child guesses “the river”.
• Rhyme Chain: One player says a word; the next must supply a perfect rhyme. Continue until someone is stumped.
• 20 Questions – Word Detective: Think of a tricky word; others have 20 yes/no questions to figure it out. Perfect for building definition knowledge.
• Silly Synonym Sandwiches: One passenger says a simple word (eg. big); the next must replace it with a fancier synonym (eg. enormous) and use it in a sentence.
These micro games fit into short bursts and turn otherwise dull mileage into vocabulary gold.
Word of the Day – Fridge Edition!
Each morning, write a new word and its meaning on a note on your fridge door. Make it fun by offering a small prize (a special snack, choosing the evening’s film, or a sticker) to whoever manages to use the word the most throughout the day.
Keeping a Word Book
Alright - we said we weren't going to resort to word lists, but having a special notebook or "word book" to jot down interesting new words can greatly enhance your child's vocabulary. There's no need to memorise the words in it - simply writing down a word with a brief definition often helps it stick naturally. Encourage illustrations or funny sentences to make the notebook personal and enjoyable!
Everyday Conversations
Use interesting vocabulary in daily chats. At meal times or during walks, casually introduce words and gently explain their meaning. Encourage your child to try them out - they'll feel proud mastering grown-up sounding words!
If English Isn’t the Main Language at Home
Many families are proudly multilingual. Here’s how to boost English vocabulary without sidelining your home language:
• Family Translation Challenges: Pick a short poem or joke in your home language and work together to render it into English. Discuss why certain words don’t translate directly.
• Subtitled Screen Time: Turn on English subtitles when watching TV in your first language, or vice versa. Reading while listening bridges vocabulary gaps.
• Cognate Hunts: Many languages share Latin or Greek roots. Challenge your child to spot English/Spanish, English/French or English/Polish word cousins.
Remember: bilingual brains are supercharged brains – reinforcing both languages only strengthens vocabulary overall.
Final Thoughts
Vocabulary development should feel effortless, not like a chore. With a bit of imagination, regular reading in many different forms, and some playful language games – at the dining table or out on the school run – your child's word power will blossom naturally.
Enjoy the journey together!
The Club 11 Plus Recommended Reading List (Ages 8–10)
Mixing genres, eras, and formats keeps reading fresh and exposes children to a broader lexicon. Try rotating a fantasy, a classic, and a slice of life story each month - variety is key!
The Nothing to See Here Hotel by Steven Butler.
Humorous fantasy. Inventive and descriptive words galore.
Humorous fantasy. Inventive and descriptive words galore.
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf.
Contemporary, empathy rich. Tackles real world themes with vivid emotional language.
The Legend of Podkin One Ear by Kieran Larwood.
Epic adventure. Old world terms and heroic adjectives.
Varjak Paw by S. F. Said.
Urban myth/fantasy. Atmospheric, sensory vocabulary.
The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson.
Myth inspired. Lyrical, folkloric language.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.
Comedy fantasy. Dialogue crammed with creative insults and invented jargon.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Classic fiction. Archaisms & nature descriptions broaden word bank.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White.
A classic animal tale. Poetic turns of phrase and gentle humour.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.
Pastoral adventure. Rich Edwardian prose introduces older synonyms.
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian.
Illustrated diary. Contemporary slang balanced with expressive adjectives.
The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Nature.
Non fiction reference. Academic words children meet in science class.
A Kid’s Guide to Climate Change and How to Take Action by Mel Hammonds.
Non fiction guide. Practical vocabulary for global issues.
Feel free to swap titles in and out - variety builds the broadest vocabulary. Graphic novels, poetry collections, and non fiction all earn their place alongside traditional chapter books.