A Springtime ‘listening walk’
When you are social distancing, keeping your little one entertained all day can seem like a daunting prospect. At First Steps Phonics, we are keen to support parents through this challenging time so we will be posting regular suggestions of activities that you and your little one may enjoy.
This activity works really well if you go for a family walk, getting some much needed exercise whilst you learn. However, if you are currently self-isolating at home, your could also do the activities in your garden, or even through your window or around your home.
Learning through play
The first steps in learning to communicate involve listening to, and identifying, different sounds. With its emerging buds and singing birds, Spring is the perfect time to take your little one on a ‘Listening Walk‘ to help them to practise these important skills.
Try this with your little one
Sometime this week, as you venture outside and explore your local area or garden, encourage your little one to listen to the sounds around them.
Can they hear…
- the crunch of the gravel beneath their feet?
- the tweet of the birds as they sing their songs?
- the beep of the cars as they drive up the road?
- the swoosh of the wind as it blows through the trees?
- the snap of the twigs when they walk through the woods?
- the buzz of the bees as they explore the flowers?
- the plop of the stone as it lands in the water
Depending on your child’s stage of development, you could try the following:
- Point the different sounds out to them and encourage them to repeat them: “The gravel goes crunch, crunch, crunch. The birds tweet, tweet, tweet..”
- Ask them “what sounds can you hear?“
- Before you set off on your walk, make a list of sounds that you might hear. Then go on a ‘Listening Treasure Hunt‘. How many of your sounds can you find?
It doesn’t matter which sounds you listen to, the important part is that you and your little one have fun listening and learning together.
Find out more
First Steps Phonics is passionate about supporting parents, helping you to inspire your children to develop a love of learning. If you’d like more tips on how you can support your child to develop key skills, why not follow us on facebook or visit our website www.firststepsphonics.co.uk to try our online sessions?