Language Learning Walks are a great way to help your child learn new words and concepts while you are on your way somewhere. It doesn't cost any money and it shouldn't take much extra time.

You can take a language learning walk anywhere and anytime you are with your child. It doesn't need to be anywhere fancy: it can be on the way to or from the supermarket, childcare or school, or any other routine activities. You can even use the concepts in your own backyard or local park. Of course, it is a nice thing to do while on a scenic walk as well. 

When you're on a language learning walk, talk about the things you see, smell, hear, touch, taste in your environment. Here's some things to try on your walk:

Follow your child's lead; focus on and talk about the things they show interest in. This way they are more likely to pay attention to and remember the things you've talked about.

Extend your child's ideas; e.g. they pick up a dry leaf, you encourage them to crush it up and sprinkle it. This is a great way to extend your child's learning. You may find they copy you, or do the same as you next time. This way you know the new learning has stuck ☺️ Repeating activities during the walk and on successive walks is another great way to make the learning stick.

Give them the opportunity and support them to feel safe trying new things; experiences bring the best learning. Try not to be afraid of dirt, water and mess! Experiencing different textures can be great for children's sensory development and gives lots of opportunities for new words!

Bringing imagination and play-acting in can be fun for some children, e.g. stomping like a dinosaur, jumping in muddy puddles like Peppa Pig, looking for faeries, etc.

Ask "I wonder?" questions to get your child thinking, e.g. "I wonder why the leaf has grown jagged edges?" "I wonder what those birds eat?"

Use describing words like spotty, jagged, sharp, smooth, shiny, tall. These words are useful because they help your child to  describe and explain things in detail. Talk about concepts like big and small, wet and dry, clean and dirty, as your child sees and experiences them. This will help them to make links between their experiences and the words.

Name the things your child hears to help them to identify the sounds and what is making them, e.g. "Did you hear the sound the bird's wings made as it flew past?" Use words like crackle and snap to describe the sounds you are making and hearing.

Reading out print around you helps your child make the link between spoken and written words.

If your child says a word incorrectly, you can say the word again so they hear it said correctly, e.g. your child says "eaf," you say "leaf."

Extend what your child says to give them more words and show them how to make longer sentences, e.g. They say "Leaf," you say "A big, shiny leaf."

Use more advanced words, concepts and language with older children and build on what they already know. You could discuss thing you come across with them and ask them to explain things to you.

Collect treasures or take photos on your walk. Look at and talk about them or show them to another family member once you get home, to practice using the words again.

I hope you enjoy your language learning walks. You can watch me demonstrating a language learning walk with my 2yo daughter here. You can download a handout summarising this article here.

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