Outdoor Discovery and Reading for Children

By Michael Russell

When the weather warms up, it's time to encourage the young ones to do some outdoor investigation that can enhance their lives with new cultural and biological discoveries. In your own backyard, you can help them find new and exciting creatures, plants and colorful rocks. There are a myriad of books that can reinforce the learning that takes place in the outdoor activities.

Have a good book handy, such as Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood, to reinforce new outdoor findings, like caterpillars and tadpoles. You will be surprised by the conversation that will begin to take place.

Visiting a neighborhood park, let your children take a trip down some slides. Ask them to feel the wind as they descend swiftly. When you return home, read the book Slide, Already! by Kit Allen. Question them about their own experience.

Don't forget to teach your youngsters 'Hide and Seek'. How many times did you enjoy that exciting game? They will be surprised at the new outdoor discoveries that will appear in the midst of this activity. Daisy's Hide and Seek by Jane Simmons will do the trick for you to enhance what they have learned.

The local public library would be a great place to visit at least twice a month. Search for the title, The Story of Red Rubber Ball by Constance Kling Levi with its marvelous watercolor illustrations by Hiroe Nakata. Then take a red ball outdoors and practice throwing and catching to let the children experience where it might unexpectedly land.

Even on a rainy day, you can share a book that talks directly about rain, such as Give Yourself to the Rain by Margaret Wise Brown. In a soft rain, you can then take the children out to FEEL the rain. Talk about why the earth and all its living things need rain.

A kite-flying experience is always fun. Help the youngsters experience how the wind can pull at the kite and lift it. The book, Kite Flying by Grace Lin can help get the little ones ready for the new event. Tell them about Ben Franklin's discovery using a kite. Later, read a story about his discovery. How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning by Rosalyn Schanzer will do the job for you.

Personally speaking, my own grandchildren LOVE the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr. And, with a trip to the zoo, we bring the words and pictures of the book back to mind when we see a REAL brown bear.

You will soon notice that the children's vocabulary has increased and that they relate more frequently. The knowledge they have acquired and questions they still want to resolve create more reason to share with you and others. The combination of outdoor activity sessions and reading sessions serve to enhance and enrich the learning experience of children. Good exercise, discovery and reading activities create fun while nourishing growing minds.

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