Outside Activities for the Book "SHOUT! SHOUT IT OUT!"

To start the new school year, my two year old and I have been exploring some basic concepts such as ABCs, counting, colors, and shapes through various songs, books, puzzles, and movement activities. At the library this week, my little one selected a book that has quickly become a new favorite.

"Shout! Shout It Out!" is a wonderfully interactive book that encourages preschoolers to shout out recognizable letters, numbers, colors, animals, and vehicles. This is not a book for inside voices. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book and take it outside. Read, shout, and explore each page.

The fun and learning doesn't have to end after the last page. The shout and learn concept is easily adaptable for many outside activities:

1. Hopscotch: draw a traditional hopscotch board then fill in the squares with letters, shapes, or numbers. As kids hop, they can shout out what is in each square.
2. Bean bag toss: paint or cover shoe boxes in colored construction paper then cut a round hole in the bottom each box. Shout out the color as beanbags are tossed through.
3. Target practice: a simple target can be painted onto styrofoam or chalked onto the driveway. Throw water balloons at the target, shouting out the numbers you hit.
4. Scavenger hunt: hide colorful blocks or animal figurines outside in the backyard. Children can shout out the names of the animals found or the color and shape of blocks as they're discovered.
5. Road watching: I have boys who love to spot construction trucks and emergency vehicles along the road. Make a game of it by shouting out every type of car, truck, and bus that passes your front porch.

Do you have a favorite noisy way to learn with your kids outside?