Winter in St. Louis offers a wealth of activities that are not only fun for the family but also fantastic for promoting speech and language development in children. By exploring these local attractions, parents can engage their kids in meaningful conversations, introduce new vocabulary, and strengthen communication skills. Below are some of the top St. Louis winter attractions and tips on how to incorporate speech and language activities while visiting.
1. Holiday Light Viewing
What to Do: Bundle up and take a stroll or drive through one of St. Louis’ stunning holiday light displays. Winter Wonderland at Tiles Park is packed with vibrant lights and decorations that spark excitement and conversation. Walk through Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights beautiful display of lights or take in the Garden Glow at the Botanical Gardens which has decorations in the winter garden. The sights and sounds create a magical atmosphere to explore.
Speech & Language Ideas:
- Vocabulary Expansion: Discuss what you see using descriptive words (e.g., “Look at the sparkling lights,” “That tree is tall and glowing”).
- WH Questions: Ask open-ended questions like, “Which display is your favorite?” or “Who might live in that gingerbread house?”
- Articulation Practice: Have your child repeat simple winter-themed words (e.g., “snow,” “tree,” “light”) if they’re working on specific sounds.Following Directions: Give your child simple instructions (e.g., “Find a blue light,” “Let’s walk towards the glowing tree”).
- Sensory Language: Talk about the colors, shapes, and sounds they’re experiencing (e.g., “The lights are shimmering like stars”).
- Comparisons: Use the displays to teach comparisons (e.g., “This tree is taller than that one,” “These lights are brighter than those”).
2. The Magic House
What to Do: Visit this hands-on children’s museum to engage in creative play and exploration. During winter, The Magic House often features seasonal exhibits and activities.
Speech & Language Ideas:
- Role-Playing Games: Encourage imaginative play in the mini-grocery store or construction zone, where your child can practice conversational skills and turn-taking.
- Describing Actions: Help children build an understanding of basic action words like “go,” “stop,” “push,” and “pull” by engaging with toys or exhibits. For example, you can say, “Push the button!” or “Let’s roll the ball! Can you roll the ball?”
- Storytelling: After your visit, ask your child to retell their favorite part of the day. Prompt them with sequencing questions like, “What did we do first? What happened next?”
- Imitating Actions: Children at a young age learn a lot through imitation. As you engage with exhibits, encourage your child to copy actions, sounds, or expressions. For example, if an exhibit involves a musical instrument, encourage your child to repeat your actions, such as tapping on a drum or shaking a tambourine.
3. St. Louis Zoo Wild Lights
What to Do: Experience the zoo after dark as it transforms into a winter wonderland with themed light displays and holiday treats.
Speech & Language Ideas:
- Animal Vocabulary: Talk about the animals they might see or learn about, even if they’re not out due to the cold.
- Making Predictions: Ask questions like, “What animals might live in the snow?” or “What do you think we’ll see next?”
- Building Sentences: Encourage your child to describe what they see in full sentences (e.g., “I see a penguin by the lights”).
4. City Museum’s Indoor Winter Activities
What to Do: Spend the day exploring this unique museum, perfect for active kids during colder months.
Speech & Language Ideas:
- Problem-Solving Language: Encourage your child to ask for help or explain how they’ll navigate through tunnels and slides.
- Spatial Concepts: Use words like “under,” “over,” “through,” and “between” as they climb and explore.
- Reinforce Social Skills: Encourage sharing, waiting for turns, and using polite requests while interacting with others.
5. Craft Time at Home with Inspiration from St. Louis Attractions
What to Do: After visiting these amazing places, extend the experience with winter-themed crafts inspired by what your child saw. For example, create paper snowflakes after a visit to the Winter Wonderland or draw favorite zoo animals from the Wild Lights.
Speech & Language Ideas:
- Labeling and Descriptions: Label the materials and describe the steps of the craft (e.g., “We need glue to stick the paper together”).
- Sequencing Activities: Ask your child to explain how they made their craft in order, using terms like “first,” “then,” and “last.”
Final Tips for Parents:
- Be Intentional: Use every opportunity to model language, expand on your child’s sentences, and encourage them to ask questions.
- Follow Your Child’s Lead: If they’re particularly interested in a specific display or activity, dive deeper into it to maintain engagement.
- Have Fun: The most important part of speech development is enjoying the process. These activities are meant to be fun and interactive, strengthening both communication skills and family bonds.
By taking advantage of these St. Louis winter attractions, you can turn everyday outings into meaningful opportunities to build your child’s speech and language skills. And if you ever need additional support, Tiny Speech Therapy is here to help! Reach out to us for personalized therapy tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Don’t forget to download our free printable Holiday Light Viewing Scavenger Hunt sheet! This fun activity will help reinforce language skills while you enjoy the festive lights. A quick reference guide to this blog post is also included on the sheet.
