Vocabulary: A Case for "Gargantuan"

Cherry-picking Pumpkins

ZZ, my grandson cherry-picked the biggest pumpkin in the patch. He needed a forklift to hoist that dude into a wagon. He tugged and he pulled and he pushed. I said to him, "That is a big, big pumpkin. It is gargantuan." I spread my arms out wide as I said gargantuan and emphasized the word with my voice to support the definition. The point is parents are the ones to begin the process of vocabulary development that will lead to comprehension long before a child encounters words in print. Here are some steps a parent can use to develop "big words." First select specific words that can replace common words in everyday language. Second, determine a simple definition or a synonym to use in conjunction with the "big word." Third, determine gestures or facial expressions that can support the meaning of the word. Finally, use the word and the supports several times in normal conversation.

After about a half an hour of heaving and hugging, ZZ abandoned the overgrown beast. He chose, instead, something he could carry.