Listening Walk with Toddlers

Toddlers and Preschoolers learn about the world through their senses. This easy adventure is a fun way to practice your child’s sense of listening. Let’s go for a listening walk!

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Beforehand:

Read a book such as LISTEN by Gabi Snyder. I often find books are a great way to gather your kids in, engage them, and then get them excited for what comes next.

After you read together, talk about what sounds you might hear on your walk. There are no wrong answers. Depending on your child’s age they might really get this and get excited about making a list or they might not quite understand what you are asking and stare blankly. Anything between these two extremes is fine.

On Your Walk:
Walk along as usual, but stop frequently and encourage your toddler to cover their eyes.

It helps if you can predict things that you might hear.

Is there a train nearby?
Cars driving past?
Birds tweating?

Read Also: How to Use Emergent Curriculum with Toddlers

Older children might be able to just close their eyes, but at least for our toddlers, actually covering their eyes helped them to focus on listening.

Ask questions such as; “what can you hear?” and “does it sound loud or quiet?”.

Pay attention to and (if your memory is like mine) write down their words.

Read Also: 12 Children’s Book Inspired Walk Ideas

Afterwards:
Engage in a dialogue about the walk. What they saw and specifically what they heard. Again, depending on their age, what they remember may vary. Remembering or being able to read back to them some of the things they mentioned can support this conversation. Follow up with more activities about sound.

For more walk ideas and other adventures for toddlers, check out my book Little Walks Big Adventures!