Listening Launches
When a child is confronted everyday with sounds and noises and more
sounds and noises it becomes difficult to truly listen for a directed
purpose. Listening involves the ability to hear and distinguish sounds
in words, a skill necessary when translating written symbols into sounds
and words, which is the foundation of reading. Through listening, the
child will not only develop these abilities but will build vocabulary
skills and learn the building blocks of verbal communication.
1. Rhyme a Story- 
Make up a story together but tell it in rhymes. Begin by making up the
first sentence. For example, you might say, “The dog went for a walk.”
Invite the child to make up a rhyming sentence, then another sentence
for you to rhyme. Explain to the child that his or her second sentence
does not have to rhyme with his or her first sentence. For example, the
child would add “The dog began to talk. Then the dog began to run.” Then
you would continue with : “He wanted to get out of the sun. He found a
tree to lie under.” Continue until you and the child are satisfied with
the ending.
2. Do You Remember? 
Begin by telling ten things about yourself to the child. Your list may
include such things as “I like dogs,” “yesterday I ate spaghetti for
dinner,” or “the red shirt I am wearing is the one Grandma gave me.”
Then invite the child to tell ten personal facts as well. After both of
you recited a list of ten personal facts, take turns trying to remember
and repeat as many of the statements from the other person’s list as
possible.
3. Secret Word- 
Choose a word, and keep it a secret. It must be a word that is used often, such as water
or a pet’s name. Then agree on a sound for the secret word together-
for example, tapping your foot or whistling. Each time the word comes up
in conversation, you will perform the signal. The game can take place
during other activities such as preparing lunch, cleaning the house, or
taking a walk. How long does it take the child to determine what the
secret word is?
4. What Was That Sound? 
Have the child close his or her eyes and listen carefully. Then make a
sound by using a common household item: shake a key chain, switch a
light off and on, open and close a drawer, or rapidly flip through the
pages of a book. After you have made the sound, ask the child to guess
the name of the object making the sound.
5. Story Opposites- 
Take turns creating opposite versions of the same story. Begin by
telling a simple story. Ask the child to retell the story, changing as
many things as possible to their opposites. You may want to offer
suggestions to get the child started. In the story Cinderella
, for example, you might tell how the shoe did not fit. After the child
has taken a turn, discuss any other opposites that could be added to
the story. Then invite the child to make up or read a story for you to
change, or give the child another attempt at a new story.
6. Sound Switch- 
Explain to the child that you both will take turns changing a word, one
sound at a time. Then choose a word that has two or more syllables.
Take the first turn, and change one sound. Then invite the child to try
to change another sound in the word. Continue to change the word, sound
by sound, until you are both satisfied that the word is quite different
then the original. Use following example to get you started.
EXAMPLE: bubble, rubble, ripple, triple, triplet, tripping, sipping, skipping, skipper