What if my child has a small vocabulary?

Talk with your child about topics they're interested in, using a variety of words. To grow vocabulary through play, try riddle-style card games like "use karuta" (What do you use to cook rice?) or "place and job karuta." "Song picture books" that show a song and illustrations together, and cards for feeling and describing words, also help. Repeatedly reading the front and then guessing the back helps it stick.