Playing outside is the perfect opportunity to teach a variety of language concepts, as well as, the social aspects of language. Your children will be having so much fun, they won’t even realize how much they are learning! Teaching them the names of objects you see or telling them to find certain objects is a great way to build their vocabulary both receptively(understanding labels of objects) and expressively(names/labels of objects). While they are playing on playground equipment, playing in the sand or water, or playing ball, you can teach your children about action words as well. Be sure to have fun being a kid with your child and incorporate turn taking games or simply making silly sounds as you play.
Words/sounds to include: outside, tree, sky, cloud, sun, flowers, ball, slide, sandbox, uh-oh, boom, up, down, in, out, throw, catch, kick, splash, water, wet, scoop, dump, run, jump, Ready, Set, Go!, My turn, etc.