Celebrating Earth Day

Written By Jody Vaynshtok

Today we celebrate Earth Day by reflecting on connection. Connection to the Earth and connection to each other. Time spent outside can create connections and communication. Nature offers rich, real-life opportunities to build language and listening skills:

  • Descriptive language: “The leaves are crunchy,” “The water is cold,” “That bird is loud!”

  • Listening skills: Identifying sounds like wind, birds, or footsteps

  • Narrative skills: Talking about what you see, experience, and explore

  • Attention and regulation: Outdoor environments can support focus and calm

For children, especially, these experiences help build vocabulary, comprehension, and connection in a natural and engaging way.

Looking for easy ways to celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few ideas you can try this week:

  • Take reading outside: Bring a favorite book to a park or your backyard. Changing the environment can make reading feel fresh and exciting.

  • Go on a “listening walk”: Pause and ask: What do you hear? Birds? Cars? Wind? This builds auditory awareness and attention.

  • Describe what you see: Turn a walk into a language-rich activity by labeling, describing, and comparing what’s around you.

  • Reduce and reuse: Donate gently used books to a local little library or swap with friends to give stories a second life.

Earth Day reminds us that we’re all part of something bigger. Enjoy connecting with each other and the outdoors this Earth Day.

Jody Vaynshtok
Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!
www.soundshc.com
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Reading Celebration at Thrive City - May 16