7 surprising benefits of Spelling Bee competitions 🐝

Spelling Bee might conjure up images of adorable kids standing on stage and reciting tricky words like “elephant.” And while it’s undoubtedly one of the cutest academic competitions, it carries some seriously important benefits for participants.

These are seven of the biggest benefits of Spelling Bee competitions, so that you can decide whether they’re a worthy exercise for your child.

1. They can improve your child’s vocabulary

We express ourselves through words. It’s how we build relationships, get work done, create gorgeous art, and so much more.

Spelling Bee competitions tend to require a broader, more accurate vocabulary, and the necessary work to build it. With a stronger vocabulary, your child will be able to express themselves more precisely and eloquently, and be a faster, more skilled reader. This helps them to build stronger bonds with family and friends, understand instructions and other texts with greater speed, and create more accurate work at school and beyond.

Vocabulary is fundamental to your child’s broader English skills, and Spelling Bee competitions are a fantastic way for them to strengthen it.

2. They can help your child become a more precise writer

Similarly to the point above, a skilful writer can select the exact words that convey their meaning, and weave them into sentences that interest and excite their readers. And this is only possible when the writer has a solid vocabulary to draw from – naturally strengthened through an interest and passion in Spelling Bee competitions.

Without a good vocabulary, progress towards becoming an excellent writer is blocked. Writing teacher John Gardner says it well:

3. They can help your child become a better reader

It’s an obvious point, but the more words your child knows, the more words they’ll be able to recognise in texts, and the greater their comprehension of those texts. An interest in Spelling Bee and the excellent vocabulary that can go along with it tends to create faster and more efficient readers, with mistakes and misunderstandings less frequent.

4. They can improve your child’s memory

Being able to accurately recall information is a key part of intelligence. By regularly learning and memorising new words (whether through preparing for Spelling Bee competitions, or just regular old passion), your child is actively strengthening their memory.

5. They can improve your child’s social skills

We touched on this point in the first benefit, but it’s worth mentioning again. The broader vocabulary that comes with practising for and participating in Spelling Bee competitions means that your child will be able to accurately express their thoughts, feelings, fears and joys to the people around them.

As a result, they’re likely to feel better understood and connected to everyone they chat to, helping them build stronger bonds and providing the confidence to be their authentic selves.

6. They build confidence through healthy challenge

Children grow by exploring the world, taking risks, and seeing what happens. From their very first steps as babies to their first time completing a Spelling Bee, they’re learning that they can take on new challenges and discover what they’re capable of.

As described below by Year 3 student Dylan, academic competitions like the ICAS Spelling Bee can help to instil the belief that they can achieve amazing things if they’re just willing to try!

7. They can boost your child’s chances of academic success

All of the above benefits add up to this final point: by becoming a better reader and writer, developing a stronger memory, having better social skills, more confidence, and the willingness to take on a challenge, your child has put themself into the best possible position to do well at school.

Who would have thought that so much could be gained from the humble Spelling Bee? 🐝