Passport to Fun: Ideas for Building Vocabulary Through Summer Play

Article | 5 min read

Summer’s bursting with new adventures for your little explorer, but coming up with fresh ideas every day can be a lot! The good news? You don’t need to travel far or spend a lot to make meaningful memories and grow your child’s language. Just sprinkle in a little creativity and fun, and enjoy these summer listening activities for young children! Introducing: Passport to Fun

Your Passport to a Summer of Fun and Learning

This is a simple guide packed with playful ideas and easy strategies to help your little one learn new words, build listening skills, and spark curiosity—all through joyful moments at home and beyond.

Let’s get talking and playing this summer with the Passport to Fun!

Discovering New Places and National Parks

It’s more than an adventure; national parks are great for language learning! Visiting new places, like national parks or exciting spots nearby, introduces all kinds of different words for your child. Every trail, animal, and scenic view can help them learn new vocabulary and can spark meaningful conversations. Check out the America the Beautiful Access Pass, a free lifetime pass that gives your child with hearing loss access to over 2,000 national parks and recreation areas!
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Creating a Campout

On a rainy day or when it’s too hot to go outside, bring the adventure indoors for your toddler or preschooler! Make a living room campout to encourage imaginative play and build problem-solving skills! Use the Beyond the Here and Now strategy and let your child lead the conversation, then add new words and expand on what they say. Some favorite activities include building a tent with cushions and blankets, singing songs like “Baby Bumblebee,” making s’mores by a pretend campfire, talking about adventures, and reading outdoorsy books like “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” You could even pretend to go on a bear hunt together around the living room as you read the book aloud.

Unlock New Vocabulary

Exploring Sounds at the Zoo

On your next visit to the zoo with your baby or toddler, turn every chirp, snort, and roar into a language moment! Use the Be a Director and Be a Bird Dog strategies to point out sounds, and label them! You can also imitate animal sounds and have your child do the same! These strategies help your child connect what they hear to words and meaning.

Great Strategies for Little Listeners

Making Memories in the Kitchen

Looking for a sweet way to mix summer fun and learning? Use the Play-by-Play strategy while making a fun “dirt and worms” snack with your child. Use chocolate pudding for mud, add gummy worms, and describe everything you’re doing. Try conversation starters such as “I wonder what it feels like to be a worm crawling in the mud” or “I wonder what the red worm tastes like. Strawberry? Watermelon?” Keep the theme going and read aloud books like “In the Tall, Tall Grass” or “Planting a Rainbow” while you eat your treats.

Easy Ways to Build Vocabulary

Finding Adventure in the Backyard

Little ones LOVE to ask questions! Model curiosity for your child by thinking aloud as you play in the backyard together. “I hear a buzzing bee. I wonder where he’s going. He seems to love those roses. What do you think he’s doing?” Or “Look at that robin! Maybe she’s collecting worms for her baby birds. Where do you think her nest might be?”

Outdoor Fun and Backyard Adventures

Going on a Toy Treasure Hunt

You don’t have to go far for this activity! Create an adventure in your living room. Go on a playful “Toy Treasure Hunt” to boost your child’s listening skills! First, use the Make Listening Easier strategy and turn off background noise like the TV or music, sit face-to-face with them, and make sure their hearing devices are on and working. Then, give simple directions like “Find the red car!”

Make Listening Easier

Splashing into Water Fun

Cool down and beat the summer heat with some fun water activities! Turn water play into a language-rich game by having your little one help you fill a tub with water. Ask them as you add water, “Do you want a little more or a lot?” Talk about what you’re doing with the water - “Oh, we’re filling up the tub! We’re pouring the water in.” Then add toys! Pick toys from different categories (like a boat for transportation and a whale for animals) and talk about them. You can also play a game of I Spy: “I spy something with a tail...is it a fish? Yes!” As you play, name toys and describe actions: “The duck is floating” or “The spoon is scooping up the water!”

Dive Into These Ideas

Celebrating Your Child’s Hearing

Use the All About Me strategy to celebrate your child’s hearing! Recognize their hearing birthday (the anniversary of getting their devices) or celebrate any time! Make the day all about their special story—talk about who was there, what they heard for the first time and how they reacted, and how far they’ve come. Share any photos or videos from those early days! Consider special treats or activities to celebrate! This can be a great topic for an experience book.

How to Use All About Me

Making Musical Fun

Make classic children’s songs part of your summer soundtrack! Sing songs with repetitive choruses, like “E-I-E-I-O" from Old McDonald or the Wheels on the Bus, to help grow your child’s auditory memory. These playful tunes make it easier for them to remember words and rhythms. This summer, try making homemade musical instruments! You’d be amazed at what you can make at home. An upside-down kitchen pot and a wooden spoon become a drum kit. Fill an empty paper towel roll with rice and secure the ends with a paper towel and a rubber band for homemade maracas!

Musical Ideas to Try

Digging in the Sandbox

Whether you're at the beach, in the sandbox at the park, or at your own DIY sandbox at home there are a LOT of language opportunities awaiting in the sand. Describe your child’s actions while playing in the sand—saying things like “digging a hole” or “patting it down” helps your toddler connect words to actions! With your preschooler, explore imaginative play and pretend you’re at the beach, desert, construction site, or even dinosaur habitat.

Try These Toddler Tips

No matter where your summer adventures take you—in your own backyard or across the country—with a little creativity and a whole lot of fun, you can turn everyday activities into learning opportunities! So download your passport to track your child’s progress, and get ready to make memories filled with laughter and language!

Passport to Fun: Ideas for Building Vocabulary Through Summer Play

LSL in Your Inbox

Your Passport to a Summer of Fun and Learning

Discovering New Places and National Parks

Creating a Campout

Exploring Sounds at the Zoo

Making Memories in the Kitchen

Finding Adventure in the Backyard

Going on a Toy Treasure Hunt

Splashing into Water Fun

Celebrating Your Child’s Hearing

Making Musical Fun

Digging in the Sandbox

Related Resources

Parent Vision Board and Goal-Setting Worksheet

Travel Tips for Children with Hearing Loss – Must-Haves for Smooth Trips

A Professional’s Guide to First LSL Lessons

Cooking Up Listening and Learning: LSL Strategies for Families in the Kitchen

How to Point Out Sound with Be a Director and Be a Bird Dog LSL Strategies

Unlocking the Sounds of Speech with the Familiar Sounds Audiogram and eBook

4 Ways You Can Feel Confident About Working with Your Professional Team

Connect with parents who have been down this path before.

Passport to Fun: Ideas for Building Vocabulary Through Summer Play

Your First Step Starts with First LSL Lessons

LSL in Your Inbox

Your Passport to a Summer of Fun and Learning

Discovering New Places and National Parks

Creating a Campout

Exploring Sounds at the Zoo

Making Memories in the Kitchen

Finding Adventure in the Backyard

Going on a Toy Treasure Hunt

Splashing into Water Fun

Celebrating Your Child’s Hearing

Making Musical Fun

Digging in the Sandbox

Related Resources

Parent Vision Board and Goal-Setting Worksheet

Travel Tips for Children with Hearing Loss – Must-Haves for Smooth Trips

A Professional’s Guide to First LSL Lessons

Cooking Up Listening and Learning: LSL Strategies for Families in the Kitchen

How to Point Out Sound with Be a Director and Be a Bird Dog LSL Strategies

Unlocking the Sounds of Speech with the Familiar Sounds Audiogram and eBook

4 Ways You Can Feel Confident About Working with Your Professional Team

Connect with parents who have been down this path before.

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