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Walking Chat

social emotionallanguage

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Walking Chat

Description

A conversation that happens on a walk the family takes regularly - from school, from the market, to the playground. The child leads what gets noticed and talked about; the adult follows their attention rather than directing it.

Cost: FreeBest time: Anytime

Play guide

  1. 1On a walk your family takes regularly (school pickup, market run, an evening walk), resist the impulse to ask "how was your day?" or direct the conversation.
  2. 2Let your child walk at their own pace. When they slow down, stop, or point at something, that's the conversation starter. Ask a follow-up: "Oh - what do you think that is?" or "Why do you think it does that?"
  3. 3The adult's role is to follow the child's attention, not lead it. If your child wants to walk in silence, that's fine - walk in silence. Not every walk needs words.
  4. 4Accept odd topics. A child noticing a crack in the pavement, a discarded wrapper, a specific colour of a wall - all of these are valid starting points. Go with them.
  5. 5The walk ends when you arrive. The conversation doesn't need a conclusion; it can just stop.

Success signals

Your child points things out and looks at you to respond - they're sharing their noticing with you. Conversations develop naturally from what the child initiates. Over weeks, your child may begin to anticipate the walk as a time for conversation rather than transit

If it's tricky

Child walks in silence every day: That's not a failure - some children process by being physically alongside without talking. Be present without filling the silence. You catch yourself asking questions that probe school or behaviour ("were you good today?"): Redirect and let the child set the topic. The walk has to be rushed some days: Acknowledge it - "We're in a hurry today - next time we'll walk slowly." Siblings are both on the walk and one dominates: Try occasionally walking with each child separately to give each one the full attention.