Animal Sounds
The cow says moo, the cat says meow: first words often start right here.
Animal Sounds is a Montessori activity for a child aged 18 to 24 months. Area: Language. Time: 5 min.
What the activity builds
Encourage the first voluntary vocal sounds: animal sounds are easier to say than words, and they open the door to language. Every imitated sound is a word in the making, and your child takes huge pleasure in it.
The materials
- Three or four realistic animal figurines, or very clear pictures
- A small basket to take them out one at a time
- Your voice, warm and genuine, without going overboard
How to do it, step by step
- Take one figurine out of the basket, set it in front of them, and name the animal: "the cow."
- Pause, then make its sound, slowly and clearly: "mooo."
- Wait. If they try, even roughly, smile and make the sound again together.
- Take out the next one, never more than three or four per session.
- Put the figurines back in the basket together: the ending is part of the game.
The parent's role
Show once, then step back, and don't demand anything: a child who listens without making a sound is working just as hard, production will come. ALWAYS name the animal before its sound, otherwise you're only teaching a noise. Repeat the same animals for weeks: repetition is what fixes it, novelty is what scatters it.
Safety
Figurines too big for the mouth, solid wood or plastic, with paint that won't chip.
You remain the sole judge of what is right for your child. These activities are offered for educational and recreational purposes: they do not replace medical advice or the guidance of an early childhood professional.
Ways to adapt the activity
- Easier: just two animals, very different from each other.
- Harder: hide the figurine behind your back and make the sound, let them guess.
- Extension: matching each figurine to its photo, around two and a half.
Up next
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