The Noises of the Wild Can Be A Child's First 'Words'

Children love songs and rhymes that involve animal sounds and they love to imitate animals when they come across their pictures in books so taking children out into the wild and encouraging them to listen to the sounds around them can be a stepping stone to developing their first real words. The syllable shapes that tend to come first in speech development are consonant/vowel shapes so moo and baa are a perfect starting place! After that you can be even wilder in the animal sounds you play with together; introduce them to the the caw of a crow, the ark of a seagull, the soft coo of a woodpigeon or the shriek of a fox, and encourage any efforts they make to imitate these. Good looking and listening skills are key to the development of an attitude of awe and wonder and can contribute to a peaceful disposition. Teach your child to hear the music of nature above the rustle and whirr of modern life and they will be all the happier for it!

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