Spring Conversation

Five minutes to support language development!

“Let’s have a conversation about spring.”

Spring brings a great deal of change, depending on where you are, so engage often with conversation as we move from the chilly, transitional days of March to the warm, verdant days of late May (or whatever progression spring offers you!).

Try any one of these prompts at a time.

• Let’s talk about what we may notice in our neighborhood in the spring.

  • Bulbs sprouting, growing, and eventually blooming - crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths

  • Mud from rainy days, before new grass has grown - with earthworms!

  • Different types of weather - warm sun, cool sun, warmer breezes, cooler winds, rain - and the resulting outcomes - puddles, the sound of wind in the trees, the changes in trees and plants after a few days of warmer weather

  • Buds and new green leaves on tree branches

  • More light in the evenings

  • Birdsong and perhaps new types of. bird - can you name any of your local species? You needn’t be a birding expert to share the name of a mourning dove, a cardinal, or a blue jay

  • Blossoming branches - forsythia, dogwood, cherry trees, lilacs, rhododendrons

  • Greens, potatoes, radishes, berries at the market

  • Chocolate eggs and rabbits and baskets at the grocery store

• Let’s talk about what kind of weather we may experience in the spring. What kind of clothing might we need?

  • Cool sun - sweaters, long-sleeved t-shirts, pants, leggings, lighter jackets

  • Warm sun - t-shirts, lighter pants, shorts, dresses

  • Rain - long-sleeved shirts, pants, rain jackets, rain boots with good socks, umbrellas

  • Wind - sweaters, fleeces, pants, windbreaker jackets, socks, sneakers

• Let’s talk about what holidays are celebrated in the spring.

  • In your family

  • In your country

  • In the lives of friends and loved ones

What can this sound like?

“Where did we see crocus bulbs sprouting yesterday? In the park! By the reservoir. What colors did we see? Maybe we could take a walk to check on them again tomorrow.”

“What did you need to wear when we went out in the rain? Your frog raincoat! And your red rain boots. You also carried your blue umbrella. It is helpful to wear layers on these early spring days - the air temperature is still chilly - so you also wore a sweater and a long-sleeved t-shirt.”

“I remember your spring picnic in the park last year. Do you? The cherry trees were in full bloom. Let’s see if we can remember some other details together. Who was there with you? What did we do at the picnic?”

“Ramadan is almost here! Let’s talk about how the adults in our family will fast, and some of your older cousins, too. I wonder if you’d like to share more about Ramadan with your friends at school. What would be a good way to do that, do you think?”

“My friend Helen was telling me about how she celebrates Holi with her family and friends in Hyderabad, which is a city in the country called India. Can I tell you about all the incredible colors she described for me, and where they come from? I also have a book I’d love to find with you at the library about Holi."

“Do you remember when we celebrated Nowruz as a family last spring? Yes, this is when we got our fish Moonbeam! What were some of the other items we needed for the table? Would you like to think about creating a Nowruz celebration in your classroom this year?”

“Do you remember when we celebrated Passover last spring with Romy’s family? Let’s think about that gathering. Do you remember who was there? Can you think of some of the foods we ate? Let’s talk about why those foods are prepared at Passover…”

“Easter is almost here. We are going to go to grandma’s church on Easter. I would love to show you the Easter lilies they place on the tables there. These beautiful flowers bloom at Easter-time and have tall stems and very fragrant blossoms. We can smell them together!”

These are just some examples - look around your world and start to narrate what is changing - and upcoming - with your child.

It’s also a good time to reconsider books about the seasonal passage of the year and weather - like these choices we shared in our Meaningful Book Club! Remember, your child learns through experience and repetition, so revisit these books as you move through the year.