How Many Sounds?
What you need
- a coat or blanket to sit on outside
How to do it
- Find a spot outside, in the garden, park or on a bench, and sit down together.
- Close your eyes and be very still for a few breaths.
- Each time one of you hears a sound, hold up a finger and say what it is.
- Open your eyes and count the fingers: how many sounds did you hear?
Why it matters
Sitting still and listening outside brings out sounds they usually walk straight past: birds, cars, wind, a door far off.
What they're learning
- Listening
- Picking one sound out of many takes careful attention.
- Counting
- A finger for each sound turns listening into a number.
- Naming sounds
- Saying 'bird', 'car', 'wind' links what they hear to a word.
What to look for
Watch for them going quiet on their own to catch a sound.
A tip
Pick a calm spot away from a busy road, so the quieter sounds have a chance.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: keep your eyes open and point to each thing you hear
Harder: sort the sounds into loud and quiet, or near and far
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Sensory activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with a blanket