Search for sound

Materials You Need: None.

What You Can Do Together: Just as children love to search for treasure, they are happy to go in search for sounds. All you need to do is to start the habit of stop and listening well in order to catch all the sounds in the room or around you. Stay quiet for a bit and encourage your child to do the same.  Say something like "shhhhh, let's hear what sound we can catch" and then point to your ears. You may hear pounding, whining, creaking, rattling, scratching, chattering. Encourage the child “Let’s see if we can collect the sounds we can hear. I can hear the clock ticking, the bus passing, the neighbor arriving by elevator.”  Use lots of interesting words like that - even if your child doesn't understand them yet.  

If the child is older, you can also ask the question "Where could I find this sound?" (And then imitate it).  Let s/he enjoy the feeling of discovery and making the connection between the sound and the object that makes it, by naming it. In that way, the language will connect with the concepts and enrich the vocabulary as well. 

You can use this activity in practically every life situation - during free play and free time, but also during daily routines - dressing, preparing meals, hygiene routine, shopping,  walking, driving, and (if local health requirements permit) waiting for the bus or for your turn at the bank, post office, or at the doctor.

What Your Child is Learning:  Your child is looking forward to activities with you and as you play together she imitates facial expressions, gestures, and some activities of close people, points with her index finger to what interests her/him, or offers things to other people in order to interest them and involve them in the game. This activity builds his/her vocabulary and knowledge of the world. Let your child explore the surroundings and tell you what s/he hears, even with babbling or simple words.