Ahhh it's Autumn

I love this time of year.  I love the crisp mornings (well eventually), the leaves turning colors, hearing the high school bands, all of it.   I love the anticipation of the holidays around the corner.  Seasons and the how they change is typically something we don't talk about with our young kids.  This weekend is a perfect time to start.

Talk about the four seasons.  Explain how we are in fall and another name is autumn.  Discuss with your child that fall is a time that many animals prepare for winter.  Talk about what happens.  Go for a little 'nature' walk.   Look at the trees and other plants that should be beginning to change colors.   Explain that some trees will lose their leaves and some won't.  Tell your child to start paying attention to the smells in the air.  They might be able to smell a fire in some one's fireplace.   Talk about the flowers people are planting now.  Call attention to the shadows they see. Talk about how in the summer they could stay outside along time and it was still light.   Now,  it gets dark sooner in the afternoon.

This is a wonderful time of year for oral language.  It's allowing your child to be aware of the world and the changes that occur.   Believe or not, this lays the foundation for them to be aware as they learn new concepts in school.