Play In The Park

The park is a great place for children to run, jump, play and learn.

Going to the park gives your child the chance to exercise and meet other children. Spending time with other children is very important as they learn behavior which will help when they start school. Your child will also be able to speak and practice language skills. Here are some things you can do to help your child learn while having fun:

1. Sing songs and do action rhymes. If other children are present, invite them to join and make it a game.
2. Talk about the kind of day it is – is it sunny, cool, bright, cloudy, windy? Are there clouds? What color is the sky? Is there a rainbow?
3. Ask questions about what you see – do you see birds, dogs, squirrels, butterflies, flowers, grass?
4. Repeat some of the sounds you hear – if a dog is barking, allow your child to repeat the sound. Chirp like a bird. You can even pretend there are other animals and make these sounds.
5. If you have a ball, play a game and talk about the rules.
6. Have a picnic. You can plan ahead what to bring and let your child help. Say the names of the food you brought.
7. Sit on a blanket and read a book together.
8. On the way home, talk about your day together, and how your child is feeling. Was it fun, boring, or just ok? Was it nice to meet and play with other children? Is your child happy, tired or hungry? Is he glad to go home and have a bath?