Sounds Around Me
Here's What To Do
Gather some objects that make noise (like: rattle, bell, two blocks to bang together, crinkly paper, musical instrument, etc.).
Hold an object out of your baby's sight and make a gentle sound with it.
Describe your baby's reactions to the sound, what the sound is like, and what the sound reminds you of. Show the object to your baby.
Repeat with the same object a few times, then move on to something new.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Make eye contact with your baby. Hum or sing and see how they react to the sound.
Engage:
- "You turned your head to hear the sound! It's coming from your rattle. The soft noise reminds me of the sound of rain."
- "Ooops! That sound startled you. Don't worry, it's just the sound a bell makes. It's kind of a musical sound, it's pretty isn't it?"
Encourage:
- Follow your baby's gaze. If they lose interest or become upset, move onto a new object.
- Encourage your baby to mimic the sound: "Ch-ch-ch-ch, the rattle goes ch-ch-ch. Can you go ch-ch-ch?"
Reflect:
- Based on your baby's reactions, describe what sounds you thought they liked or disliked.
Not quite ready?
While your baby might not strongly react to sounds, they are still benefiting from hearing new and different noises.
Ready for more?
As your baby becomes mobile, put a few objects on a blanket and let them choose which one to play with. Talk about the sounds they make when they play with the objects.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be curious about different sounds that objects make.