At the age of 4, your child probably knew 5,600 words. By age 8, the number was closer to 26,300. But to be successful in college, your teen will need to know at least 120,000 words.

Here are some tips to share with your teen to develop a better vocabulary:

Read. The best way to learn new words is by reading. The more teens read, the more words they encounter.

Try to learn five new words a day. Write each word on an index card. Memorize it and try to use it during the day.

Use it or you’ll lose it. It’s important to use new words in writing and speaking.

Use the dictionary. There’s a lot to learn in the dictionary—not only how to spell and pronounce the word, but also something of the word’s origin.

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