Listening games for kids

Before you start

Sit somewhere calm and agree on a soft voice. Never make loud sounds near anyone's ears, and keep any sound you make gentle. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

Want more word play afterwards? Try the word games for kids, the spoken rhyming and word games for kids, play memory games for kids, or browse everything in Play and learn.

1. Sound hunt with eyes closed

Age hint: 4 to 7.

You need: a quiet room and nothing else.

1. Everyone sits still and closes their eyes.
2. Listen for one minute without speaking.
3. Open your eyes and take turns naming a sound you heard.
4. Count how many different sounds the group found together.

Practises: careful listening and patience.

Make it harder: Say which sound was nearest and which was farthest away.

2. Whisper down the lane

Age hint: 5 to 10.

You need: three or more players sitting in a line.

1. The first player thinks of a short sentence, such as “The green frog sat on a log.”
2. They whisper it once into the next player's ear.
3. Each player passes it on, whispering only once.
4. The last player says it aloud, and everyone compares it with the start.

Practises: listening closely, memory and turn-taking.

Make it harder: Use a longer sentence, or add a tongue twister from our tongue twisters for kids.

3. Rhythm echo clapping

Age hint: 4 to 8.

You need: only your hands, clapped softly.

1. The leader claps a short rhythm, such as clap, clap, pause, clap.
2. Everyone listens without moving.
3. The group claps it back exactly.
4. Pass the lead to the next player.

Practises: listening, memory and turn-taking.

Make it harder: Use longer patterns, or tap on knees, shoulders and the floor.

4. Story with a mistake

Age hint: 5 to 9.

You need: a short story you know well.

1. Tell the story slowly in a calm voice.
2. Hide one silly mistake inside it, such as a crow that barks.
3. Listeners raise a quiet hand when they spot it.
4. Ask the child to fix the line, then swap roles.

Practises: careful listening and remembering what is true.

Make it harder: Hide two mistakes, or ask listeners to count them. A story from our classroom story circle works well.

5. Follow the three steps

Age hint: 4 to 7.

You need: a few safe objects, such as a cushion, a book and a cup.

1. Give three small instructions in one go, such as “Touch the cushion, pick up the book, sit down.”
2. Say them only once.
3. The child does them in order.
4. Swap, so the child gives the instructions.

Practises: listening, memory and sequencing.

Make it harder: Try four steps, or add a silly step like “spin once.”

6. Guess the kitchen sound

Age hint: 5 to 9.

You need: a spoon, a cup, a bowl, a paper bag and a grown-up helper.

1. The guesser turns around or closes their eyes.
2. The helper makes one gentle sound, such as stirring, tapping lightly or crinkling paper.
3. The guesser names the sound and the object.
4. Swap places and try new sounds.

Practises: careful listening and describing what you hear.

Make it harder: Make two sounds in a row and ask for them in order. Keep every sound soft and well away from ears.

7. Silent signal circle

Age hint: 6 to 10.

You need: a circle of players and one small object.

1. Sit in a circle and pass the object in silence.
2. One player sends a quiet signal, such as a nod, a tap on the floor or a raised finger.
3. The next player copies the signal, then adds a new one.
4. Keep going round, listening and watching for each change.

Practises: attention, memory and turn-taking.

Make it harder: Chain two signals together, or try a new order each round.

A good listening guide for kids

Teach four little words, and say them together before each game.

• Eyes: look at the person speaking, or close them to hear better.
• Ears: listen to every word, not just the first one.
• Wait: let them finish before you speak.
• Answer: say what you heard, in a calm voice.

A note for teachers and parents

These games fit nicely into circle time. Start with one, keep it to a few minutes and stop while children still want more. Praise good listening, not only right answers, and let mistakes be part of the fun. Teachers can find more ideas at Rangooo for teachers, families on a journey can try the travel games for kids, and everyone can browse the stories and activities or the riddles for kids with answers. To make the sounds yourself, build a shaker or a tube drum with homemade instruments for kids.

Questions

How long should a listening game last?

A few minutes is plenty for young children. Stop while they still want more, and they will be keen to play again.

Which listening game is best for a four-year-old?

Sound hunt with eyes closed and rhythm echo clapping are gentle starts. They need no equipment and no reading.

Can these games be played in a classroom?

Yes. Whisper down the lane, rhythm echo clapping and the silent signal circle all suit circle time with a whole group.

How do I keep the games calm?

Agree on soft voices before you begin, keep all sounds gentle and never make loud noises near anyone's ears.