{"id":2343,"date":"2016-08-18T13:47:34","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T17:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parenttraining.chip.uconn.edu\/?page_id=2343"},"modified":"2025-10-03T21:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T01:27:49","slug":"ideas-for-outdoor-and-indoor-play","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parenttraining.chip.uconn.edu\/index.php\/ideas-for-outdoor-and-indoor-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor And Indoor Play"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
Pixnio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GAMES FOR OUTDOOR PLAY<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following are activities that you can do with your child outside, such as in a park or playground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. ROUTINES FOR PLAYING ON THE SLIDE THAT TEACH LANGUAGE, TURN-TAKING, AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Playing on the slide is a good activity for teaching \u201cup, up, up\u201d and \u201cdown, down, down\u201d as well as \u201cready, set, go!\u201d If the ladder to the slide is high for your child\u2019s size, climb up behind her to keep her safe. Then you can also keep her from sliding down too soon or give her a gentle push when it\u2019s time for her to go down the slide.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Try using repetitive language and the CLOZE (filling in) procedure to teach words like \u201cup,\u201d \u201cdown,\u201d and \u201cgo.\u201d For example, as your child is climbing the ladder say \u201cYou\u2019re going up, up,\u201d (then pause). Then gently hold your child\u2019s arm or shoulder to stop her from taking the last step, in order to encourage her to say the word \u201cup.” If she can\u2019t say \u201cup,\u201d but tries to make the sounds, that\u2019s great. If she doesn\u2019t try, then you say \u201cup\u201d and let go of her arm so that she can reach the top of the slide. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she reaches the top and is ready to slide down, hold her shoulders and say, \u201cReady, set, _____.” Then, pause to see if she will say \u201cgo.” If she does, let her slide down right away. Or, you could – give her a gentle push if she likes that. You can cheer for her until she reaches the bottom. If she doesn\u2019t say \u201cgo,\u201d prompt her by saying the first sound of the word \u201cG.” If she still does not say the word or if she only repeats the \u201cg\u201d sound, just say the word for her and let her go down the slide. Instead of saying, \u201cReady, set, go!,” you can say, \u201cDown, down, down!\u201d In that case, you would just pause before saying the word \u201cdown\u201d for the third time. Then, wait for her to make eye contact and\/or for her to fill in  the word \u201cdown\u201d if she can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the slide has a small ladder that she can easily climb, you can stand at the bottom and have her slide through the \u201cmommy tunnel\u201d by putting one foot on either side. Be sure to give her lots of praise and tickles for trying to say new words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are at a park or playground with other children who are also playing on the slide, this can be a nice chance to work on waiting and taking turns. If your child finds it hard to wait her turn, you can practice when you have the slide to yourselves. Have your child\u2019s stuffed animals take turns with her sliding down the slide. You can call out each stuffed animal\u2019s turn, as well as your child\u2019s turn, saying, \u201cTeddy\u2019s turn, Elmo\u2019s turn, Baby\u2019s turn!\u201d Be sure to make the stuffed animals climb up the ladder to the slide, but make their turns quick so that she doesn\u2019t have to wait very long for her turn. Praise her for nice waiting after each of her stuffed animals takes a turn. Just before her turn say, \u201cGreat waiting!! Now it\u2019s Baby\u2019s turn!\u201d This way, her turn to slide is a natural reinforcer for waiting nicely and taking turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, you can make her stuffed animals take slightly longer turns. This way, she will have some practice waiting about as long as she would for another child. Then you can begin to let her practice taking turns with one other child at a time, praising her for being a good turn-taker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. PUSHING YOUR CHILD ON THE SWING TO WORK ON EYE CONTACT, NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND LANGUAGE<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"Used<\/a>
Wikimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Pushing your child on the swing is one of the best and easiest activities for improving your child\u2019s eye contact. Stand in front of your child and give her a few good pushes from the front. If she is looking at you, keep it going. When she looks away for more than a few seconds, gently catch the swing with both hands and hold it still until she looks at you. Then, give her a big smile and say \u201cpush\u201d as you begin pushing. Repeat this for as long as your child is enjoying it.<\/p>\n\n\n