Phase One: Environmental Sounds
Purpose: To develop children's listening skills and awareness of sounds in the environment. This will help children to tune into sounds which will help when they sound out and spell words later on.
30-50 months: They focus their attention to listen.
Tell your child that you are going to go on a sound hunt. Can they think of any sounds they might hear? You could do this inside or outside.
As you walk to the first place on your sound hunt you could sing:
We're going on a sound hunt,
Will we hear a loud one?
Listen carefully,
What will we hear?
Encourage your child to stand still and quiet, making sure their eyes are ready and show them how to cup their hand to their ear. Encourage them to listen to the different sounds they can hear and discuss them. What do they think is making the sound? Is it loud or quiet? You could record the sound on your phone to use later.
When you have finished see if they can recall the sounds they heard. You could make a list together. If you recorded sound clips, play them back and see if they can remember where they heard the sound and what was making it.
Phonics Bloom has a free game that also helps to develop this skill called What's Behind the Door. The children press the sound button and try to guess what animal is hiding behind the door.
If you have a go at this activity and share any photos on social media I would love to see them. Please tag @miniwritersclub and use #miniwritersclub and let me know how you get on.
Anna