Preparing for Summer: Building Communication Skills withOutdoor Play

Summer is the perfect time to encourage learning through play, and outdoor activities provide endless opportunities to build communication skills. Whether playing in the park, exploring nature, or engaging in group games, outdoor play fosters language development, social interaction, and motor coordination while having fun in the sun! Here are some engaging ways to help your child develop essential communication skills through summer activities.

1. Explore Nature and Build Vocabulary

Nature walks, trips to the beach, and backyard exploration introduce children to new words and concepts. Describing what they see, hear, and feel helps expand their vocabulary while encouraging curiosity and conversation.

Activity Idea: Take a nature scavenger hunt! Make a list of objects to find, such as a feather, a smooth rock, or a buzzing insect. As your child discovers each item, encourage them to describe it: “Is the rock rough or smooth? What sound does the insect make?” This supports descriptive language and observation skills.

2. Engage in Water Play for Language Development

Water activities like playing with sprinklers, washing toy cars, or making “soup” in a kiddie pool encourage imaginative play and conversation. Asking open-ended questions during water play fosters expressive language.

Tip: Give your child a set of plastic cups and scoops and encourage them to “sell lemonade” or “run a car wash.” This creates opportunities for pretend play and practicing social interactions, like taking orders and using phrases such as “Would you like more?”

3. Encourage Group Games to Strengthen Social Skills

Playing with friends or siblings in outdoor games like tag, Simon Says, or Red Light, Green Light helps children practice turn-taking, listening, and following directions. These skills are essential for social communication.

Activity Idea: Organize a simple relay race where children must pass an object (like a ball or beanbag) while giving their teammate a short instruction or encouraging phrase. This fosters teamwork, active listening, and positive interactions.

4. Promote Storytelling Through Outdoor Adventures

Storytelling enhances communication skills, imagination, and sequencing abilities. After a day of adventure, encourage your child to retell their experiences or make up stories based on what they did.

Activity Idea: Create a "summer adventure journal." After an outing, have your child draw a picture and tell you about their favourite part. Ask prompting questions like, "What happened first? What was the funniest thing you saw?" Writing down their responses strengthens narrative skills and memory recall.

5. Support Motor Coordination and Language Through Obstacle Courses

Outdoor obstacle courses combine movement with language skills. As children follow directions to complete different challenges, they develop listening comprehension and coordination.

Tip: Set up a fun course with cones, tunnels, or balance beams and give simple instructions: “Jump over the rope and then crawl under the chair.” For an added challenge, let your child give you directions, practicing verbal expression and sequencing.

6. Use Park and Playground Time for Social Interaction

Playgrounds provide a natural setting for practicing social skills like introducing oneself, asking to join a game, and sharing equipment. Encourage your child to initiate conversations with peers and express their needs respectfully.

Tip: Practice common playground phrases at home, such as “Can I have a turn?” or “Let’s play together!” Role-playing these interactions can help children feel more confident in social situations.

7. Play with Chalk and Outdoor Art for Expressive Communication

Drawing with sidewalk chalk, painting rocks, or making nature collages can encourage storytelling and creative expression. These activities allow children to describe their artwork, discuss colours and shapes, and engage in back-and-forth conversation.

Activity Idea: Draw a scene with chalk and have your child make up a story about it. If they draw a castle, ask, “Who lives there? What adventure are they going on?” This promotes imaginative language and narrative development.

Making Summer a Season of Growth

Outdoor play isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful tool for building communication skills, strengthening social interactions, and enhancing coordination. By incorporating these simple and engaging activities into your child’s summer routine, you can create meaningful learning experiences while enjoying the sunshine.

At Hello Speech, we’re here to help families make the most of every season with tailored strategies to support communication and social development. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your child thrive this summer!