Your Child Will Learn
To vary tone and volume when communicating in different contexts.
Here’s What to Do
- Ask your child to think of a song, nursery rhyme, or story they know really well. Tell them you’re going to record their voice with your phone as they try telling it in different ways.
- Think of two very different contexts and encourage your child to tell the same story or sing the same song two different ways. (For example, ask them to tell the story first to a baby who is about to fall asleep, and then to retell the same story as if they’re yelling out a window to someone down on the street.) Record both versions of the story on your phone.
- Play the recordings back for your child. Ask them how they used their voice differently in both of the versions.
- (Optional) If they’re having fun with it, see if there are other silly ways they could try telling the same story! (Examples: as if they’re really sad, if they’re whispering into someone’s ear, as if they’re telling it in front of their class at school, with a grown-up voice, etc.)
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Find a quiet space, free of distractions.
ENGAGE
- “Can you tell your favorite story and pretend you’re yelling to someone across the street while you tell it? Can you tell the same story but pretend you’re whispering because you don’t want to wake up a sleeping bear?”
- “How do you think your voice sounds different between the two versions?”
ENCOURAGE
- “I’m noticing that in this version your voice is really high pitched, like you’re talking really high like this!”
- Compliment them by telling them what you loved about their storytelling or singing!
REFLECT
- Is your child able to match the tone and volume of their voice to the pretend scenario?
Not Quite Ready
Tell a nursery rhyme or story yourself using different voices for different occasions. See if your child can mimic the tone and volume you use.
Ready for More
Play the same game, but ask your child to record two different versions of a story: one with easy words a baby would understand, and one with big words a grown-up would understand.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
Your child will vary tone, volume, and expression to match the social situations of songs and stories.
Time to Complete
10 – 20 minutes
Materials Needed
Smartphone with a voice recorder app