Early years supporting information
Whilst we encourage families to take part in the activities during their active journey to and from their setting, we recognise that for some families the journey to school by car is essential (for example, the distance from home to school may be too far or your child relies on school transport). In these situations, there are still many ways families and children can have the opportunity to enjoy Spring into Action.
The options below give families, children and schools/settings more opportunities to use the activity cards.
Parents and carers
Even if your child has not yet started school, you can still take part in Spring into Action with younger children. You and your child can enjoy the activities while walking and wheeling to nursery, preschool, playgroup or a childminder - whether for all or part of the journey - or while out on a local stroll with the pram.
Choose the activities you know your child will enjoy. For example, activity cards such as Colour Hunt, Sound Hunters, Journey Treasure Hunt are great observation and sensory activities that support young children's physical development, communication, language skills and understanding of the world around them.
During your walk, use the Conversation Cards to ask your child the questions about what they are seeing, hearing and smelling. You can also narrate what you notice yourself, helping them hear new vocabulary and language about the weather, their surroundings and their journey.
Our Walk, Talk, Listen in the Early Years resource includes further helpful information and and advice you may find useful.
Settings - pre-schools, nurseries and childminders
- Encourage your families, where possible, to walk or wheel all the way from home to your setting.
- For children travelling from too great a distance - encourage use of Park and Stride locations (where available) or park considerately on a side street and walk/wheel the final 5-10 minutes.
Use the activities during a setting outdoor activity:
- A supervised class or group walking/wheeling trip in the local area – staff may be able to take groups out into the local community to enjoy the activities.
- Guided group activities within your grounds – staff may be able to take a group outside to use the Toolkit.
- For children who are not comfortable with going outside to learn, the activities can also take place indoors. Sitting together at a table or using comfy floor cushions can still create a relaxed, side-by-side style of conversation. For observation activities, children can look out of a window and talk about what they see or hear.
- Adults can assist children who need support, for example describing what they see and hear.
- Visual aids and sensory literature can also support pupils participation.
Alternative activities:
Soft Listening Moments
At calm points on your walk, pause briefly and notice gentle, softer sounds around you.
You might listen for:
• A quiet rustle of leaves.
• Soft footsteps.
• A bird far away.
• The wind moving gently.
Invite your child to share a sound only if they want to or simply enjoy the moment together. There’s no right or wrong answer — even “I hear nothing” is okay.
How this activity helps you talk and listen: Focusing on calm, gentle sounds supports children who prefer softer sensory experiences and creates peaceful opportunities for connection.
Explore a Sensory Trail
Find out if there is a sensory trail near you and enjoy a walk that invites you to explore nature through your senses.
• Check for a local sensory trail by visiting Sensory walks in nature.
• Choose a trail that suits your family's location and interests.
• Plan your visit - when you'll go, how you'll get there and who you'd like to invite along.
• Walk together and notice the sensations around you. Talk about:
~ What you can see
~ What you can hear
~ What you can smell
~ What you can touch
Why this activity is great: Sensory experiences spark natural conversations and help families feel calm, present and connected.
Finally...
Please pick and choose the activities that best suit your child. If you’re concerned that certain activities may cause distress or feel overstimulating, you can repeat a favourite activity and leave out any that you feel are not suitable.
The most important thing is that your child enjoys the experience of connecting with you and discovering their local area. This helps them build confidence when travelling and exploring.
You can also add in your own activities, letting your senses guide the conversation!
We'd love to hear any ideas you have - please share any suggestions for us to consider including in future events by emailing travelplans@hants.gov.uk.
The link with road safety
Whilst using the Toolkit, take the opportunity to include some road safety education. This could include finding safer places to cross, looking for supported sensory impairment places to cross, locating the cone on a road crossing, looking for tactile pavement crossing surfaces and practising important rod safety skills such as holding hands. When at their setting or at home, help children be more road aware by setting up some road safety activities. For example:
- Flash cards showing safe places to cross.
- A tuff tray exercise such as chalking a route and adding safer places to cross. such as a zebra crossing.
- Themed floor mats to decide on the safest routes from A to B.
- Small world figures can be incorporated too.
Explore these road safety resources for more ideas:
THINK! road safety resources for children - flexible content supporting different learning styles and a wide age range.
Mrs Mactivity road safety tuff tray activity - encourage children to use the road safety map to help figures and toys cross the road in a safer way.
ROSPA teaching road safety skills to children with additional needs - advice on teaching road safety skills to help children keep themselves safe and develop awareness skills.
National Autistic Society road safety - a guide for parents and carers
Off to the Park! Tactile Book - illustrated by Stephen Cheetham, this is a sensory and involved experience book outlining a well-loved journey to the park, featuring using a signalised crossing.
Some suggested resources on Twinkl (note: required to create an account – free).