Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard.
I love this activity for its simplicity. Plus, it’s a great way to reconnect with the outside world in just a couple of minutes.
I first explained the “rules” to the listening game to my 5-year-old son like this: “I’m going to count to 20 in my head while you close your eyes and just listen – no talking. When time’s up, you can tell me everything you heard while you were listening. Then we’ll swap and you’ll count while I listen.”
When we first played, I doubted there would be anything interesting to listen to in the front yard of our urban neighborhood. And while it’s true I did hear the faint hum of the nearby freeway (ugh!), I also heard the sound of the wind and crows cawing to one another.
While I love the serenity of listening to the world around me, I also love sharing what we hear. My son excitedly relays every detail. His imagination runs wild and he builds stories around what the sounds might be without needing to know for sure.
Why it’s so fun: Turning quietness into a game somehow makes it magical and fun for little ones. My son giggles and thinks it’s so silly — but he never turns down a chance to play. And the game is never the same twice with an endless array of sounds just waiting to be discovered.
Variations on a theme: This game can be played anywhere, anytime. We usually find a nice spot to sit down together in our front yard, but we’ve also played on hikes or while lying on the ground under a tree. What matters is taking a few moments to really listen to what’s happening around you.
Happy listening!
Welcome, Deborah! I'll have to check out your book recommendation. Thanks!
I love listening games. I often read the book "the Listening Walk" by Paul Showers to get my preschoolers warmed up for a listening game outside.
Thanks for stopping by, Alison!
I love this game. I've heard of it before but, strangely enough, I read about it being played indoors. Outdoors is much more fun!
Thanks for the great suggestion, Bethe! My son already loves maps, so this would be fun to try.
As your kids get older, you can take this to the next level and draw a sound map. Sit & listen for two minutes, then draw a picture (X marks the listener's spot) and draw or write sounds you here on the map. Ex: bird in tree to left, barking dog in a neighbor's yard. Trade maps and see if you can hear the same thing or draw on the same map at different times of day. 🙂 Bethe @balmeras