Winter words

Talking about things that interest them is a great way to help your child learn new words. Even if your baby isn’t talking yet chatting with them helps them develop and learn. This weekend enjoy some wintery words together with our play ideas. 

As we said last week, wrapping up warm and going outside whatever the weather is a great way to help your child experience the changing season.  

Take your time as you walk along, and pause to look at ice, puddles or anything else that interests your child.  

Chat about the things you see and about how the weather feels.  

Here we go round the mulberry bush 

Gather some winter clothes, for example, a coat, hat, gloves and scarves.  

Place the clothes where your child can get them easily.  

Sing Here we go round the mulberry bush and encourage them to put on each of the items as you sing them.  

Repeat with each item for as long as your child is interested and enjoying the game. 

The words are: 

This is the way I put on my hat, put on my hat, put on my hat.  

This is the way I put on my hat on a cold and frosty morning.  

Here we go round the mulberry bush, mulberry bush, mulberry bush.  

Here we go round the mulberry bush on a cold and frosty morning.  

You could sing this song as you put your baby’s winter clothes on ready for a walk.  

Winter story time 

This could be the perfect way to snuggle up after a winter’s walk.

Find somewhere that is comfortable for both of you and look at a wintery story together, we have two suggestions in our playkit but there will be lots to choose from at your local library.  

Read the story to your child, and chat about the pictures.  

Give them time to respond and repeat the words they’ve heard.  

You could even choose a couple of favourite words that you’re going to use when you go out for a walk together. 

Don't forget there are play ideas linked to the skills your child is developing now on your activities page - when you master skills you'll get new ones, and new articles so don't forget to check your child's skills to keep everything up to date.