Learning On the Go Series - Part 3

On a walk

Taking is a walk is great exercise for you and your little one, but it can also be a chance to spend some quality bonding and learning time together. On a walk together, look at the world through your child’s eyes and try to experience what a bug, a cloud, or a deep crack in the sidewalk might look like to your child. You will be amazed by the sights, sounds, and smells you can discover together if you take the time to stroll!With your baby:

• Point to and name things that your baby is interested in or stares at. Naming everything from the signs, flowers and bugs to cars, people and animals will expose them to more words, sounds, and sights.
• Take the time to let our baby watch things until their gaze or interest shifts naturally and notice how intently your baby studies certain things.

With your Toddler:

• If your little one likes to run, jump, and practice moving from place to place on a walk, make a game of doing this and join them. Let them guide the pace and energy of walk, instead of yourself.
•  Help your child learn and understand safety by stopping at street corners, waiting for green lights to cross, and paying attention to important signs. Show them how to look both ways before crossing the street and let them hold your hand while they cross.

With your Preschooler:

• Ask questions to your child about the things you see on the walk, and try to include past, present, future, and hypothetical ideas. For example- if you see a dog, you might ask what the dog is doing, if your child has ever seen that dog before, or what they think the dog might do if it were bigger or smaller, faster or slower. They will have to hypothesize and think creatively!
• Make up rhymes or sing chants while you walk, then try walking and singing faster and slower, matching your walking speed with your speech. “The ants go marching” is a great song to do this with. Create new versus together that relate to what you see and do.

We know that taking time slow down and “smell the roses” is good advice for busy adults, but it is also great advice for helping your child learn and grow! Taking a walk together to experience the world at a slower pace will give your child a chance to make observations, ask questions, or just take in their surroundings. The activities above may seem simple and trivial, but the interactions they will spark between you and your child will make a lasting impression on their growing minds. Help your child learn, get good exercise, and have fun all at once, just by taking a walk together! The information in this article has been adapted from the Born Learning campaign.