Children’s use of language and the ability to clearly articulate their thoughts and ideas is an important milestone. Children that know 1000 or more words before kindergarten show large gains in schools. Combining language development through nature is a great way to increase vocabulary.

As spring begins, it offers opportunities to read books and to experience the outside. Read books that invite you to pretend to be animals, imitate their movements or sounds, try to move like a turtle’s crawl or a lion’s strut, and get kids talking about what they’re doing and feeling. Books such as It Looks Like Spilled Milk talks about clouds, while And Then It’s Spring talks about anticipating spring and watching a garden grow. Other beautiful picture books illustrated by collagists such as Ezra Jack Keats, Leo Lionni, or Eric Carle talk about the techniques the artists use.

Listen to the sounds of spring: birds chirping, frog noises, rivers flowing, and notice physical changes such as grass turning green, bulbs coming up from the ground and other early flowers. Have children make their own books using materials such as watercolors, paste, paper, cloth scraps, ribbon, foil, string, stamps, greeting cards, and box tops and write stories about what they see and hear. When they’re done, they can “read” their books to you or to each other.

Mealtime is an excellent opportunity to use new words, describe textures, and have 3-5 exchanges in a conversation. Eat and talk about food from around the world. Let children handle, smell, and taste diverse foods with different flavors and textures, such as coconut, kiwi, curry, passion fruit, chutney, plantains, ackee, chili, papaya, dulce de leche, and tomatillos.

Movement and music increase language development. Singing songs and changing the first letter of words helps your child develop hearing acuity and discern sound differences. Make homemade rice or bean shakers, or have them glue ribbons, crepe paper, party banners, and string to paper towel rolls for a fun dancing activity.

Take neighborhood walks to look at the letters on signs and mailboxes. Call out each of the letters or numbers. Experiment with balance and physical properties, and share positional words such as in front of, behind, next to, on top of, etc. when building super-tall towers and long bridges with blocks. Expand on block play by asking children what happens when they add more blocks to the top.

Come experience springtime gardening, healthy eating, and other activities to do with your family on Saturday, April 25, at the Danbury Public Schools’ Family University. Headlining this spring’s Family University is FOODPLAY with its interactive “To Be FIT, the Juggling Nutritional Magician Show. Families will learn the importance of good nutrition, movement for optimal body health, and more about the Danbury Farm to School initiative. The event is free of charge and includes lunch and gifts for each family. For more information on how to register, visit the Danbury Public School website at www.danbury.k12.ct.us

Anne E. Mead, Ed. D. is the director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.