How to Teach Child Animal Sounds

Updated on March 09, 2012
B.R. asks from Dallas, TX
17 answers

Our child is 14 months and I feel as his language is delayed. He only can say a few words- mama, dada, and book. We are currently working on animal sounds. Does anyone have any tips on how to help him learn these? Also, does anyone have any tips on how to increase his vocabulary as well. Thanks for your help!

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, just talk to him! Take him to the Zoo! Read him books on animals.

Seriously, stop worrying about it. If he is saying mama, dada and book, he is doing great!

3 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

I did a quick Google and most articles say that the typical 14-month old only can say 3 to 5 words, but understands and knows so many more. I wouldn't sweat it yet.

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L.L.

answers from Rochester on

For a 14 month old boy, I don't think you can consider that a delay. Even for a girl...my first child talked in paragraphs by that age, but my second (also a girl) only had a few words at that age. Now, at 22 months, she too speaks in paragraphs.

Animal sounds are easy...get an animal book, point at the cow, and say "MOO!" Point at the sheep and say, "BAA!" :) Then start saying, "The cow says MOO!" "The sheep says BAA!" Funny enough, animal sounds were one of the first things my children learned as far as speaking goes.

I wouldn't stress...he's only just past a year old. His language is DEFINITELY not delayed. To give you an example...at 14 months, my youngest could say only a few words, and today she told me "Get ready and go to church. Play babies, and I sitty down and cry." To me, that's a great improvement...and she's only 22 months!! :)

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Get the Bright Baby board books. Just point and name. The best thing you can do is read, read, read to your son and name everything you see.

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T.W.

answers from Syracuse on

This book, Animal Sounds (Golden Sturdy Book) by Battaglia Aurelius was the book that taught my son several of his animal sounds by 12 months.

I'm sure his language is fine, my first son knew his animal sounds but didn't speak clearly until close to 3. My second son had only a few words up until he was about 2, at which point his vocabulary exploded and he spoke in sentences, I couldn't believe it. I would recommend that you just read as much as you can to him!

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat - a lot of words they learn at this age are parroted. Keep using them over and over. Add pictures to the words. Find picture books and look at them over and over. And relax. It will come in time and if you are concerned talk to his doctor.

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Definitely don't worry about it - my son didn't start saying much until he turned 2, and he quickly developed an incredible vocabulary. Just keep saying the sounds, and he will get it. Also, doing sign language not only improves communication, it has been shown to increase a child's verbal skills later.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

If you think there might be a problem.. have him professionally evaluated. get help now. the sooner the better. both of my kids had speech therapy and it was amazingly successful. start with your local school district and see if they can help you. In our state the intermediate school district does therapy on kids up to age 3. Then after they turn 3 the local school district takes over the therapy.

I dont htink his language is delayed. There is a chart on the number of words they should be able to say at each age.. I think at 1 mamm dadd and one other word is normal. Other words you might try to teach.. words for food... banana, juice milk bottle.. words for toys... ball car .. just talk to him alot .. read to him a lot... there is a point in normal language development where kids add several new words every day..

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

You may find he knows more that he could sign and understand than he can verbalize.

I love Sandra Boyton. Any book with sounds and shapes and rhythm. Moo Baa La La La is such a cute book. Read to him. Interact with him. Play with a farm or zoo set. "I'm a lion. Roar! I'm going over to the gorilla to borrow a banana." Sing songs. "Over the hill and far away" teaches that ducks go quack. "Old MacDonald" teaches him whatever animals you imagine on the farm. He might sit back and watch you and then come back with 15 new words in one week. Kids are like that. He'll learn through experience and play.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/communication/c12yr.html - according to this, he's right on track.

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L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Sounds like he is off to a good start to me! he is not delayed, just keep talking to him, not at him, not for him. When you hand him his cup say it everytime, cup! if he hands it back to you say cup, repetition is key. To help him learn animal sounds sing old McDonald to him everyday several times a day! as long as he likes be silly and animated. oh Yeah there is a great video on Disney called choo choo soul and the lady sings an animal song my DD loves it! i have to youtube it for her over and over again! look it up!

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I think first you should contact your school district's Parents as Teachers. They can help you determine if he is delayed. They are free and come to your house...sign up! Other than that I think books and play ate the best eat. Old McDonald's is a good suggestion too. A favorite in our house is the Little People farm set.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

First thing that came to mind is that toy, that if you spin the arrow to the picture of an animal it would make that animal sound. It wasn't the best audio, but it had about 15 animals to choose from. And it was fun!

Vocab is increased by normal conversation and talking about things you see in everyday life, along with exposure to different experiences/travels (doesn't have to be out of town vacation). When parents ask how they can help their kids at school, I always respond with give them as many different experiences as possible and expose them (outside of the home) to as much as possible.

I asked two 1st graders what cows eat and they had no idea!!!!!!!!! We live in Texas in a rural area!

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

B., I agree with you. His language should be beginning to explode. Plus is your instinct feels like something isn't quite right, never ignore that. I work with many, many mothers who "knew" there was something to pay attention to for years, but because they couldn't find professionals who validated their feeling, they just kept wringing their hands. Later on when the professionals started raising concerns, many more issues had been created by waiting. If you think something needs to be done, I say DO IT! (Just emphasizing, not yelling there)
I will private message you some suggestions.

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

At 14 months, don't fret too much. Kids are different. You should ask the pediatrician if you have the same concerns at 18 months. Somewhere between 18 months and 2 years, I would expect your kiddo to start saying more words. (And some kids, including my second, are slower than that.)

To teach animal sounds, make them over and over and over. Get pictures or stuffed animals and make the sounds.

For vocabulary, talk and read to your kiddo incessantly. Use regular words. Big words. Strange words. Fun words. Use the words, and he will learn them. It might take him a while to say them though.

E.A.

answers from El Paso on

My daughter learned animal sound before she was one she could sign cow and say moo at the same time. I never used books. But i did have fun animal sing song apps :) now she is two aand we dnt do signs as much but now she can say cow sign cow and moo. She also knows cat horse monkey goat frog dog tiger bug andshe learned it from fun aapps amd my help singing along or during evry other activitie Just make it fun to learn and keep reapeting and it will evemtually click :)
Good luck.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

books, books, & more books. Be very repetitive in reading. With each page, encourage your child to say the word. But, also, be very careful not to hound him either! If you make it fun....that's what's important & will capture his interest.

With my older son, we used to play a game where I would kiss his cheek & make an animal sound. For example, if I said "cow"...then I would "mooo" a kiss onto his cheek. It was a guaranteed giggle time! He loved this game & that's how he learned his animal sounds. My MIL had never seen learning activities such as this....& she loved it, too!

Heartbreaker: my younger son hated the game & never engaged with it. BooHoo!

Anyway, hope this helps! Make it fun.....oh, & he's pretty much on track developmentally. :)

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N.Y.

answers from Dallas on

We used Baby Einstein flash cards. We'd say the animal on the picture and make the sound, then let them repeat it. Then go to the next one. After doing this over time, over and over, it should help. My daughter would repeat it exactly like we did, she'd say "lion" and roar, then go to the next one and so forth. Good luck.

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