Treat preparation like homework. A bit of work each day allows a child to learn gradually and without the frustration of last-minute memorization. Block out a half hour each day to work on vocabulary building.
Familiarize yourself and your child with the dictionary. When it comes to spelling bee training, not all dictionaries are created equal. A child's dictionary is not the best version for spelling bee preparation because its vocabulary is limited. It is designed to teach words that children are likely to use or see every day. A collegiate dictionary is more likely to have words students will hear in a spelling bee. Websites of dictionary publishers also are good training resources.
Play Scrabble or another spelling game regularly. Games can make the training process fun and bring out your child's competitive side. Offer a prize to your child when she uses a difficult or obscure word.
Practice listening. At a spelling bee, words are delivered to contestants orally, so learning how to listen and pick up pronunciation is imperative. Ask your child to spell a word solely based on your reading it out of a book. This practice also helps children learn to break down words into smaller pieces based on their sounds.
Add words daily to the practice list. Words are everywhere: on billboards, shop signs, books, t-shirts, cars, etc. Keep a small notebook and a pencil to write down interesting words, then later look them up in the dictionary and add them to the list of words your child is familiar with.
Teach that everyone is a winner. Your child's attitude will be partially determined by yours. If you treat the competition as if it will make or break a school career, you will give your child unnecessary anxiety. Even if you child does not get past the first round, he is still a winner because he prepared and improved his vocabulary.