What is the practice?
This practice uses the sounds of ani- mals, toys, and other objects to pro- vide your child opportunities to hear sounds as part of parent–child play. The sounds (the buzzing sound of a bee, for example) are used to provide your child a response to her making any kind of sound. The more a child hears the sounds “that go with” differ- ent toys and objects, the more she will begin to notice how sounds are similar and different.
What does the practice look like?
An infant is sitting in an infant seat facing her mother. The mother shows her child a stuffed animal and makes the animal sound. The stuffed animal is slowly moved toward the child, and the sound of the ani- mal is repeated until it “tickles” the child’s tummy or neck. The mother waits until the child vocalizes, smiles, laughs, or shows some sign that she wants to play the game again. The mom repeats the game anytime her daughter vocalizes, smiles, or laughs at her.
How do you do the practice?
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does your child get excited and enjoy the game?
- Does your child vocalize more often to get you to continue the game?
- Does your child anticipate having the toy tickle or kiss her?
- Start by finding three or four objects or toys that are familiar to your daughter. Soft toys like favorite stuffed animals often work best.
- Show your daughter a toy and make the sound that goes with the toy (for example, say “Oink, oink” while showing your child a toy pig).
- While making the toy seem to dance or move and repeating the animal sound, move the toy toward your child and touch her with the toy (for example, pretending to have the pig kiss her). Make it fun!
- Repeat the game but wait until your child gives you some sign that she wants to play again (by looking at you or making a sound—any sound—for instance).
- Try different sounds and different toys. Vary where you tickle or kiss your baby to make the game more interesting.
Take a look at more sights and sounds
Animal Hand Puppets
Eight-week-old Joshua especially enjoys seeing animals while out on neighborhood strolls with his mother. Mom has noticed that Joshua listens intently to whatever sounds the animals make. She uses this interest to play sound and word games with Joshua using animal hand puppets to get him to “talk.” He especially likes dog, cat, and cow puppets. Joshua’s mother has the puppets talk to him saying things like “You are such a big boy. Do you want to play a game with me?” She watches for a sign that her son wants to play with a puppet and starts saying the animal sound as she makes the puppet dance on Joshua’s tummy. She then starts having the puppet walk toward his face as she makes the animal sound a little louder and in a more exaggerated way. The game ends by having the puppet pretend to nibble on his nose. As soon as his mother puts on another puppet, Joshua starts making sounds as if he is talking to the puppet.
Play Sounds
Sarah, who is 6 months old, and her dad play a game in which he “makes up” sounds for different things Sarah likes to do. Banging wooden spoons on pots, banging blocks together, and hitting on a drum are just a few of Sarah’s favorite activities. Her father says “bang-bang” when she is hitting pots, “click-clack” when she plays with blocks, and “boom-boom” when she pounds on a drum. Sarah watches her father intently as they both “do their thing.” She really tries to repeat the sounds her father makes. Sarah even looks to see what Dad will say next when she is trying different activities. She even tries to “make up” sounds on her own.
Talking Froggy
Caleb, 8 months old, has a favorite stuffed frog that chirps “ribbit” and makes other frog sounds when it is squeezed. He isn’t able to squeeze the frog by himself because he does not have the strength to do so. His mother still uses the frog to engage Caleb in a game that gets him to make all kinds of sounds to have Mom squeeze “Froggy” for him. Mom starts the game by asking Caleb, “Where is Froggy? Is he sleeping?” This gets Caleb excited and he starts making cooing sounds which tells Mom that he wants to see his toy frog. Caleb’s mother brings the stuffed animal into view and asks her son to “say ‘hello’ to Froggy.” Caleb waves his arms and makes a loud squealing sound. Mom squeezes the frog, making a ribbit sound. The game con- tinues with Mom asking Caleb different questions. Each time Caleb “answers,” Mom squeezes the toy frog to make yet another sound.
