Children learn best when they are curious. Promote your little one’s language acquisition while enjoying these outdoor spaces in New York City! We recommend that parents encourage new vocabulary and language when outside. Feel free to talk about the beautiful colors you are seeing and amazing flowers you are smelling. Take the time to just stop and look! Allow your children to ask questions (e.g., “What is that called?”).
Wherever you decide to go, make sure to take pictures so that your child can work on recalling what happened in the past.
Randall’s Island
Randall’s Island Park offers miles of waterfront pathways, 60+ athletic fields, Icahn Stadium, tennis and golf facilities, expansive gardens, wetlands, an urban farm and more. Upcoming events include Yoga in the Park, and both Urban Farm Exploration Day and Art on the Farm! Randall’s Island events and activities are perfect for both kids and adults.
Waterfront Walks
Don’t miss the very informative weekend waterfront walks at Brooklyn Bridge Park! They talk about the history of the area, the park’s sustainable life, and how it was designed. It is a great forum to ask questions, practice listening, and just enjoy being out in nature. Check out their events calendar regularly to see what is going on. You can always get your eat on at the amazing Smorgasburg while there too!
Bird Watching
The birds are back and tweeting away at Central Park! Borrow a free Conservancy Discovery Kit at Belvedere Castle. It comes with binoculars, guidebook, maps, and sketching materials. This will allow your child to explore, comment, and learn more about the world around them.
New York Botanical Garden
If you really want to get the feel of spring don’t forget to visit the New York Botanical Garden! Its lush landscapes, nature walks, gardens, and various collections is the ultimate way to learn about flowers and greenery.
High Line
One of our favorite areas in the city is the High Line for its mix of urbanism and nature. Most people are unaware that it offers plenty of activities for children! They even offer High Line tours, a perfect opportunity for your baby to waddle around and for you to learn more about the history of the High Line.
Nature Exploration
Before it gets too hot outside, have your children join the Prospect Park Audubon Society in Prospect Park to explore nature. We especially love the Boathouse area! They have recently expanded their program and began the Pop-Up Audubon, which involves an Adventure Hike (finding the park’s hidden trails), Nature on the Go! (using binoculars to identify songbirds), Nature’s Helpers (teaching how to protect tree roots and spend time spreading wood chips around trees), and Family Bird Watching!
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Debbie Shiwbalak, M.A., CCC-SLP, has a Baccalaureate of Arts in Speech Pathology and is a graduate of Long Island University-CW Post Campus, where she received a Master of Arts in Speech Pathology in 2001. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed by the state of New York to practice speech-language pathology. Debbie has 13 years experience as a speech pathologist in the New York City area. She co-authored a chapter of “Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism” and presents at parent and professional workshops all over New York City.
Alpin Rezvani, M.A., CCC-SLP, graduated from New York University with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) and has New York licensure in Speech-Language Pathology. She has 7 years of experience as a speech pathologist in the New York City area and was an adjunct instructor at New York University. She co-authored three chapters of “Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism” and presents at parent and professional workshops all over New York City.
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