My Child’s Journey
Back to activities

Speech and language

Animal sounds

Take turns exploring familiar animal sounds together.

5 minGood for 24–35 months

You'll need

  • Large animal toys or animal pictures.

How to play

  1. 1Show a cow and say, "This is a cow. Moo!"
  2. 2Pause and welcome any response: a sound, word, look, or gesture.
  3. 3Show a cow and a cat. Ask, "Which one says meow?" Help if needed.
  4. 4Let your child choose an animal for you to make its sound.

Make it easier

Use only two familiar animals and model their sounds.

Make it harder

Add short phrases such as "The cat sleeps" or "The cow eats."

Skills practiced

  • Listening
  • Sound imitation
  • Vocabulary
  • Taking turns

Safety

Use large, age-appropriate toys without small detachable parts. Do not require your child to repeat sounds correctly.

Follow your child's interest and current abilities. Ages and time are guides; you can simplify, stop earlier, or repeat the game.