What’s That Sound?
Introduction
Listening is one of the most important skills you can teach your child, but it’s also one of the most overlooked. We expect kids to listen without realizing that listening is a skill they have to practice and build, just like walking, talking, or balancing. The good news is that listening skills grow best through simple, playful games that fit easily into everyday life.
Strong listening skills support speech and language development because children need to hear sounds clearly before they can say them correctly. Listening is also a big part of learning to read, because hearing and understanding sounds helps children recognize letters and words. Good listening helps children follow directions, understand lessons, and feel confident participating in school and sports. It also helps children communicate with others, make friends, and cope better both at home and in school. When kids can listen well, everything feels a little easier.
Gather Materials
Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that you feel are safe for your child and that you are comfortable letting your child use.
Activity
I Went to the Zoo and I Saw a…This is a great listening game that works on listening, memory, and paying attention. Start by choosing an animal and say, “I went to the zoo and I saw a lion.” The next person repeats what you said and adds a new animal, like, “I went to the zoo and I saw a lion and a bear.” The game keeps going with each person repeating the animals in the same order and then adding one more. No repeating animals allowed! With a little practice, you’ll be surprised by how many animals kids can remember. Their listening and memory skills will really begin to improve!
Odd One Out (Listening Version) This is an easy game that kids can play without any pictures or objects—just using their ears and brains! You say a small group of words out loud—three or four—and one of them doesn’t belong. The child’s job is to listen carefully, figure out which one is the odd one out, and explain why. Start simple. For example, you might say, “Apple, Banana, Car.” The child listens and says, “Car! Because the others are fruits.” Once they get good at it, make it trickier with less obvious differences, like “Cat, Dog, Snake.” Then they have to think a little harder—“Snake! Because it’s not a pet with fur.” This game is great for helping kids focus, remember what they hear, and practice explaining their thinking.
What Sound Is This? This is a simple and super fun listening game you can play anywhere in your house. All you need are everyday sounds and your ears! The goal is for kids to listen carefully, identify the sound, and maybe even guess what’s making it. Pick a few common household sounds. Here are some ideas:
- Tapping a spoon on a cup
- Closing a door
- Shaking a set of keys
- Flipping pages in a book
- Running water from the tap
- Crumpling paper
Listening skills grow naturally through games, songs, stories, and everyday conversations, and these playful moments are very important for brain growth.
If you'd like to practice listening skills outdoors, you may be interested in reading, Whoo Is It? on our Early Science Matters website.