Outdoor Reading Activities
Lots of young children love to be outside. Bringing phonics to the outdoors is a fun and engaging way to engage children and reinforce their phonics skills. Here are a few ideas:
Alphabet Hunt: Hide letter cards around the garden and have children hunt for them. As they find each letter, ask them to say the letter sound or a word that begins with that sound.
Word Scavenger Hunt: Create word cards with simple, phonetically decodable words, and hide them around the outdoor area. Have children find the cards and read the words aloud.
Chalk: Use chalk to draw letters, words, or phonetic sounds on the ground. Have children hop or jump on the letters/sounds as they say them aloud.
Sensory Phonics: Create sensory bins filled with items that begin with certain sounds (e.g. beans for ‘b’, sand for ‘s’, etc.). Have children sort through the bin and identify the items by their beginning sound.
Our Recommended Products for Outdoor Learners
Alphabet Splash Pad
The Lubibi Kids Splash Pad is a summer outdoor pool garden beach birthday party game water sprinklers spray mat toy designed for children. The splash pad measures 67 inches in diameter and features an alphabet learning design that provides a fun and educational experience for kids.
The sprinklers on the splash pad shoot water into the air, creating a fun and refreshing water play experience for children. The pad is made from durable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly PVC material that is safe for kids to play on.
Alphabet Bean Bags
EQD Alphabet Bean Bags are a set of educational toys designed to help children learn the alphabet while engaging in active play. The set includes 26 bean bags, each with a different letter of the alphabet printed on it, from A to Z.
Using the Alphabet Bean Bags, children can play a variety of games that help them learn the letters of the alphabet. For example, they can toss the bean bags onto a mat with the corresponding letter, play a game of “I Spy” using the letters, or use them in a spelling bee.
Alphabet Foam Mat
The 36pcs Alphabet Number Foam Mat is a set of soft and colourful jigsaw puzzle pieces made from EVA foam. These foam mats are designed to provide a comfortable cushiony surface to play on, making them ideal for children, toddlers, and babies.
The set includes 36 pieces that can be arranged in different ways to create a large mat or individual puzzle pieces. The foam mats are also printed with colourful letters and numbers, making them a fun way for children to learn while they play.
Alphabet Sensory Water Beads
The Richtim 26 Alphabet Sensory Water Beads are a set of ABC learning sensory toys designed for preschool toddlers aged 3 to 6 years old. These alphabet-letter sensory bead toys are a great way for children to learn the letters of the alphabet while also engaging in sensory play.
These sensory beads can be used in a variety of ways to help children learn the alphabet. They can be used to create fun games and activities that help kids identify the letters of the alphabet.
6 in 1 Activity Board
The 6 in 1 Educational Learning Skills Activity Drawing Board is a versatile and fun learning tool for children. It features a double-sided design, with one side being a blackboard and the other a whiteboard. This allows for double the fun and creativity, as children can draw or write on both sides using the included chalks and eraser.
Made from high-quality wood, the board is built to last and can withstand the wear and tear of regular use. The sturdy design also ensures that the board remains stable during use, preventing it from tipping over or sliding around.
Developing Early Literacy Skills Outdoors
“Developing Early Literacy Skills Outdoors” is a great introduction to outdoor learning as it provides activity ideas and best practices for teaching early literacy skills outside. This handy book includes a range of fun and engaging outdoor activities that are designed to help young children develop their literacy skills, such as reading, writing, and communication.
