Physical Activity and Speech/Language Development

My two year old, Son, and I spent went to the Idaho Falls Recreation Center's Open Gym in the morning, and to a community park in the afternoon.  Three cheers for the weather!  Movement helps encourage speech and language at all levels of development.  I have listed examples below.

Slides!

*Caregiver/child can say "up, up, up" as your child climbs the slide's ladder, and "down" as he/she goes down the slide

* Caregiver/child can count the steps as your child goes up.

*Caregiver/child can say, "ready, set, go" to encourage him/her to go down the slide.

*Say, "1,2,3, go"

*Sliding provides a great opportunity for taking turns with other children.  Taking turns is essential in learning how to participate in conversation.

*My Son said "I want more slide,please."

Tunnels

*Some words that can be taught/said with tunnels include: in, out, through, tunnel, crawl...

* This tunnel provided a great opportunity for peek-a-boo.  "Where are you, Mama?"

Balls

* Examples of receptive language/understanding skills that can be taught with balls: colors, size, following directions

*Examples of expressive language skills that can be taught with balls: naming colors, naming size, words like up and down.

*"I want to play basketball, please." How could I resist him!  We enjoyed playing "hoops" for part of our time at the Rec Center.

Steering Wheels

*The list of words are endless, and obviously so much fun:

Car sounds, go, stop, circle, round, fast, slow...

*My Son initiated the tune " The Wheels on the Bus" while 'driving.'

What a fun day!!!