Listening Activities for 18 months – 2 1/2 year olds

The ability to listen develops from a very early age. Babies, whilst they are still in the womb, can hear noises from 25 weeks. Communication between adult and baby may occur through the latter part of the pregnancy and onwards through the child’s early years.

Singing songs, nursery rhymes, and introducing anything with a strong steady beat is important for developing rhyme; this supports language development and later reading skills.

Reading stories and rhymes to your baby is equally important. Even though babies cannot understand the story they learn to recognise speech patterns and enjoy the close time with you. The more you repeat this, the better.

Keep eye contact when playing/communicating with your baby. This encourages looking skills to develop.

Try some of the activities listed below, they are all designed to be FUN for you and your child:-

• Respond to your baby’s babble. Try imitating the babbling sounds ba da ma; babies/toddlers love repetitive sounds. Babbling is an important aspect of language development – all babies should go through this process. This is how your baby learns to co-ordinate their movements to make sounds which will lead to speech.
• Read to baby from baby books or anything that interests you. The child will not mind the content, they are learning so much from the intonation of your voice.
• Use rhymes – pronounce the words demonstrating how mouth, lips and tongue move. This, again, is a fun activity and should be enjoyed by the child and adult.
• Use lips and mouth to blow or voice words on tummy, neck, back and legs ie I know where the giggles are, behind baby’s knees (tickle the back of the knees). The child will start to anticipate the tickling after a few goes. They will enjoy the rhyme, giggle, and move their body to protect their knees before you tickle them.
• Imitate each sound made by the child, let them lead, you follow. It is often fun to let the child lead. They soon realise that they have control and will make a sound deliberately to attract your attention.
• The child’s body may move to sound of music, encourage this. Developing a sense of rhythm is important. This has a positive effect on the co-ordination of the body. Rhythm and rhyme support the development of reading.
• Develop musical rhythm when listening to music. Follow a tune by tapping or drumming, jumping etc to the rhythm of the music.
• Listen, and respond, to their noises. Young children make a variety of noises – this is their way of communicating. By responding to their noises, your child is able to tune in to your voice and listen to the sounds you make. Encourage your child to imitate you.
• Make simple musical instruments, for example, a plastic container with lentils or rice inside is ideal. Play music with child and encourage, chanting, singing, and marching to the beat. Make up your own rhythms and copy each other.
• Encourage naming of objects and let child have a go after they have listened to you. For example, say cat as the cat walks by, your child may respond with miaow or ca
• Hide sound makers under a cloth. Make the sound. Wait till your child is showing an interest. Bring the object out from under the cloth. Show your child how to make the sound then let them have a turn.