Teach Your Child to Listen Carefully to Identify Sounds
Everyone wants to be listened to when they are saying something. Unfortunately, listening is not a natural-born skill people know how to do well. We must teach children how to listen carefully in order to identify sounds. Games are a great way to get children to actively listen. Here are a few sound games for you to try at home with your child.
Who Is It? As your child is watching a favorite television program, have him stop and turn away from the television with his eyes closed. As a familiar character is speaking, ask your child who it is. After your child gives a response, have him turn around to see if he was correct. You can continue with other characters and take turns being the one to identify the characters. (Adapted from “Who’s That Talking?” activity on iVillage.com.)
Sound Matching. Have your child match sounds by filling pairs of identical containers with items such as rice, sand, pennies, beans, cotton balls, etc. Have her find the two that are the same by shaking and listening to the sounds that are made. (Adapted from Carole Elkeles’s “Listening Games and Activities” at www.articlesforeducators.com)
Picture This. Find pictures of various sound-filled scenes such as a park, a circus, or a train station. Have your child identify different sounds that would be heard in the picture if she was actually there. You can also extend the activity by recording the sounds you and your child make and then pull out the pictures on another day. Play back the recording and have her match the sounds with the correct picture. (Adapted from Carole Elkeles’s “Listening Games and Activities” at www.articlesforeducators.com)