Look for illustrations or photographs of people doing different activities—playing a sport, cleaning the house, working outdoors, etc. Talk about the tools or special equipment the people are using. “The girl riding the bike is wearing a helmet. What does the helmet do?” or “He’s using a hammer to build a birdhouse. How does a hammer work?”

When children start reading, knowing what words mean will help them comprehend what they are reading. Look for opportunities to introduce new words to your child and talk about what they mean. You can do this when you read together, but also when you take a walk in the park, go to the grocery store, or while waiting in the doctor’s office.