Before your baby can say their first words, they're already learning how to communicate. They coo, babble, squeal, make raspberries, and experiment with different sounds, and when you respond, those sounds become little moments of connection.
This is sound play: using sounds to interact, imitate, take turns, and explore communication before they can use words!
Sound Play Is an Early Form of Communication
Sound play begins long before a baby's first word. Cooing, babbling, raspberries, squeals, and experimenting with different sounds all give babies a chance to discover what their voices can do.
But they're learning more than just how to make sounds.
Emily Ferjencik, author of Neigh, Quack, Moo, describes sound play as “one of the earliest stages of communication development.” As babies play with sounds, they're also building early communication skills: taking turns, listening, imitating, playing with pitch and tone, and sharing moments with you.
In other words, sound play gives babies a way to join in on communication before they have the words to say what they mean.
Why Is Sound Play Important?
Sound play gives babies a chance to explore their voices and discover what different sounds can do.
They might squeal to hear how high their voice can go, make a raspberry just because it feels funny, or repeat a sound they like. As they grow, they begin experimenting with pitch, volume, rhythm, and different combinations of consonants and vowels.
They're also learning how communication works, listening to sounds, imitating what they hear, taking turns, and sharing little moments with the people around them.
And there's no need to worry about getting it “right.” Ferjencik describes sound play as a “low pressure and high reward form of communication play.” It's a chance for your baby to explore, practice, and have fun with their growing voice.
What Counts as Sound Play?
Effective sound play activities don't have to be complicated or something you have to plan into your day. They can be as simple as responding to a sound your baby makes, playing with your own voice, or adding an expressive sound to an everyday moment.
Follow Their Lead
One of the easiest ways to encourage sound play is to listen and respond to what your baby is already doing.
If your baby coos, coo back. If they make a raspberry, make one too. When they try a new babbling sound, imitate it and see what happens.
Then pause and give them a chance to respond. These little exchanges help babies experience the give-and-take of communication while having fun with sounds.
Give Everyday Sounds Meaning
Sound play for babies and toddlers can also happen as you go about your normal day. Add expressive sounds to moments that naturally call for them:
- “Uh-oh!” when something falls
- “Whoa!” when something surprising happens
- “Aww!” when you see something cute
- “Eww!” when something smells or tastes unpleasant
- “Ta-da!” when you reveal a toy or finish an activity
- “Woohoo!” when something exciting happens
These sounds aren't just silly noises. As Ferjencik explains, “Any sound that has meaning is a word.”
Let Them Experiment
Your baby doesn't need to produce a specific sound or say a word correctly. Give them room to try things out, to squeal, babble, repeat sounds they like, or discover new ways to use their voice.
There's no need to correct them or turn it into a lesson. The goal is simply to give them opportunities to explore, connect, and have fun with sounds.
As Ferjencik puts it, “The goal of sound play is to introduce new sounds in a fun way, take turns imitating each other, and allow your baby or toddler to explore what their mouths can do.”
Want an easy way to practice together? Try our animal sound activity for babies and toddlers for a fun, low-pressure way to turn playful sounds into meaningful interaction.
Bring Sound Play Into Storytime With Ninewise
At Ninewise Publishing, we believe the best learning can happen through simple, playful moments together. Our interactive board books bring rhythm, repetition, movement, and sounds into storytime, giving little ones plenty of opportunities to listen, participate, and connect.
So the next time your baby makes a silly sound, make it back. That simple exchange might just be the beginning of a conversation!
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