Easy read and translate
Sound play
- Speech, language and communication
Children need to be listening and attending when completing speech sound activities in order to make progress. If a child is not quite ready to take part in other activities, you could support them by playing simple listening games.
The first step in learning a speech sound is being able to hear the sound and tell the difference between sounds (not just speech sounds).
Parents and carers can use this information at home to support their child. Education staff can also use this information with children in their school or setting.
Please try these ideas and advice before making a referral to the Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Explore the topics on this page:
Listening for sounds activity ideas
- Listening walk: Listen for different sounds around the house, garden, playground or on the way to the shops. Point out sounds like an aeroplane, a dog barking, a lawnmower or a car horn. This can help give children a focus, especially if you ask them to tell you what they can hear.
- Noisy box: Put some noisy objects in a box or bag. This could be a squeaky teddy, keys, a ball with a bell in it, a shaker or bubble wrap. Use the object to make the noise and then ask the children what they think they heard. If this is too hard, show the child the objects before they go behind the screen. Or you can give the child options to choose from.
- Listening games: Listen to a sound and ask the child to guess what it is. Or ask them to stand up when they hear a particular sound, such as a dog barking, bell ringing or car horn. This could also be done as a Bingo game.
- Sing nursery rhymes: Clap out the syllables of words together. You can also talk about rhyming words, and talk about words that sound the same.
Copying activity ideas
- Mirror play: Make funny faces in the mirror and encourage the child to copy you. You can move your tongue up and down and side to side. You can also make funny sounds like babbling 'mamamama' or 'babababa'. You could try starting with vowel sounds like 'ah', 'ee' and 'oo'. Encourage your child to copy the sounds you make, and copy any sounds they make.
- Blowing: Blow a feather or toy windmill, taking turns with the child
- Trumpets: Use kitchen roll as a pretend trumpet to make noises through.
- Body sounds: Encourage the child to copy simple body sounds, including:
-
- clapping hands
- tapping 3 fingers on 1 hand
- stamping feet
- slapping knees
- clicking the tongue
- kissing sounds
- popping the cheek
- making a fish sound with lips
- blowing raspberries
Listening for speech sounds
- Model pure speech sounds: It is really important that you accurately model speech sounds, using the pure sound and not the letter name. For example, ‘sss’ not ‘suh’ or ‘ess’, and ‘p’ not ‘puh’ or ‘pee’.
- Focus on the child listening: It's great if the child joins in or copies you, but do not force them to repeat words. They will join in when they are ready.
- Make it fun: Choose a time when the child is happy and calm. Try to make it a time when it is just you and the child without distractions.
- Make it visual: Linking sounds to objects or pictures can support the child in learning the sounds.
Listening for speech sounds activity ideas
Play with the toy with the child, make the sound, and occasionally use a word with the sound in. You can use these ideas or get creative and choose your own objects.
Last reviewed: 24 November, 2025
