Baby Picnic Ideas

Experience, Read, Sing, and Play

Picnic

This series is inspired by the principals of literacy promoted by our local library: Talk, Sing, Read, Write, and Play. I replaced “talk” with “experience” to provide activity ideas that you can talk during or talk about before and after the experience. I also took out the writing portion since my child is not yet old enough to write (6 months at the time this blog first posted.)

Experience

I love going on picnics. My husband? Not so much. So if I’m going to introduce Miles to the art of picnicking, that experience is on me to schedule and organize. My plan is to garner the excitement in him by reading lots of books to him about picnics and introducing picnic toys so that when he inevitably asks when we can go on a picnic, how could my husband say no? ha!

Read

Reading books about picnics to kids offers a delightful and enriching experience with several benefits:

1. Fostering Imagination and Creativity: Picnic-themed books often depict outdoor adventures, delicious food, and fun activities, sparking children's imagination and creativity. They can imagine themselves on their own picnics, planning menus, and playing games in the great outdoors.

2. Promoting Outdoor Exploration: Picnic books encourage children to appreciate and explore outdoor environments such as parks, gardens, and nature reserves where picnics often take place. They may feel inspired to go on their own picnics with family and friends, enjoying the fresh air and natural surroundings.

3. Introducing Healthy Eating Habits: Many picnic books feature wholesome and nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, and salads. Reading about healthy picnic fare can encourage children to make nutritious food choices and develop healthy eating habits.

4. Encouraging Social Interaction: Picnics are often social gatherings where people come together to share food, conversation, and activities. Reading about picnics can teach children about the importance of social interaction, cooperation, and communication in building relationships and friendships.

5. Teaching Planning and Organization Skills: Planning a picnic involves making lists, gathering supplies, and coordinating logistics such as transportation and seating arrangements. Picnic books can teach children valuable planning and organization skills as they follow characters' preparations for their own picnics.

6. Promoting Literacy Development: Reading picnic-themed books supports children's literacy development by exposing them to new vocabulary words, descriptive language, and storytelling techniques. They learn to read and comprehend narrative text, improving their reading comprehension skills.

7. Creating Positive Associations with Food and Mealtime: Picnics are associated with leisurely meals enjoyed in scenic outdoor settings, creating positive associations with food and mealtime. Reading about picnics can make mealtime more enjoyable for children and encourage family bonding over shared meals.

8. Cultivating Appreciation for Nature: Picnics often take place in natural settings such as parks, forests, and beaches, providing opportunities for children to connect with and appreciate the beauty of nature. Reading picnic books can foster a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.

9. Stimulating Sensory Experiences: Picnic books describe sensory experiences such as the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of outdoor picnics, engaging children's senses and enhancing their reading experience. They can imagine the feeling of sunshine on their skin, the sound of birds chirping, and the taste of fresh fruit and sandwiches.

10. Creating Lasting Memories: Reading about picnics with family and friends can create lasting memories and traditions for children. They may fondly recall the stories they read together and cherish the memories of picnics they shared with loved ones, creating a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

In summary, reading books about picnics to kids offers a joyful and enriching experience that promotes imagination, outdoor exploration, healthy eating habits, social interaction, literacy development, and appreciation for nature. Whether children are planning their own picnics, enjoying delicious picnic fare, or exploring the great outdoors, picnic books provide valuable opportunities for education, enjoyment, and connection with family and friends.

Sing

Play

My Top 5 Picnic Recommendations:

• Want to amp up your picnic experience? Book Picnics in the Chi for a luxury picnic experience either in your home or at a park.

• This Chicago Parent article has a list of the best places to set up a family picnic in Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

• Invest in a nice picnic blanket to make your experience extra cozy.

• I own this baby tent to keep our baby shaded during our time spent outdoors. I’ve used it on our back porch, in our front yard, and I’ve slipped it in the bottom of the stroller to go on picnics.

• While my pre-baby picnics were admittedly much more elaborate, a pared-down picnic (especially the first one with baby) seems much less daunting. For me, that meant simple to prepare and serve food so that I could focus on packing things to keep baby entertained like books (see below) and toys.