Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Listening Bingo Sounds Around Us: Free Printable Game for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Listening Bingo Sounds Around Us is a free printable listening game for ages 2 to 4, in the Early Years. Children tick off everyday sounds on a checklist as they hear them, such as a car, a bird, a tap or someone laughing. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a bingo style checklist of everyday sounds. A car, a bird, a door, a tap, a phone, a clock, someone laughing, the wind, a kettle and a dog all appear. An adult reads the items. Children listen carefully, wait, and tick each sound when they hear it. Then they say what made the sound. It suits very young children because the sounds are familiar and the game stays short.
- A car
- A bird
- A door
- A tap
- A phone
- A clock
- Someone laughing
- The wind
- A kettle
- A dog
Where the sounds can come from
Sounds already around you
Play in the kitchen, the garden or a classroom. Stop and listen. Tick a sound when it really happens. Real sounds feel exciting and need no preparation.
Sounds you make
An adult can make a sound with their voice, hands or a toy. A bark, a knock, a laugh or a whoosh all work. Children then tick the matching picture.
A quiet walk
Go outside with an adult and listen as you go. Stay close to your adult near roads. Tick sounds on the way and talk about them when you get home.
Why listening matters in the early years
Listening is one of the first skills young children use to learn. Before they can talk in sentences, they take in the sounds and voices around them. Learning to pay attention to one sound among many takes practice. Games that ask children to stop, tune in and think about what they heard help build that habit gently.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Communication and Language includes listening, attention and understanding. Naming a sound links hearing to words. When a child says, "That is a bird," they join a noise, an object and a word together. Short, playful rounds with an adult beside them suit this age well.
Kettles and hot water are for adults only. If you want the kettle sound in the game, make it with your voice. Stay with your child near roads when listening outdoors, and keep the game away from anything hot or sharp.
Fun facts about sound
- Sounds are made when something shakes very quickly. This shaking is called a vibration.
- Sound travels through the air to reach our ears.
- We have one ear on each side of our head. This helps us work out where a sound is coming from.
- Sounds can be loud or quiet. Volume means how loud or quiet a sound is.
- Some sounds are made by people, some by animals and some by objects.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening
- Naming sounds
- Waiting and attention
- Matching sound to picture
- Taking turns
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Communication and Language | Listening, Attention and Understanding | Early Years |
What children will be able to do
- I can listen for everyday sounds.
- I can match a sound to a picture.
- I can say the name of the sound I hear.
Helping young children listen well
- Get quiet firstTurn off music and background noise before you start. A calm room makes small sounds easier to hear.
- Sit closeSit beside your child so they can see your face. Point, smile and let them take their time.
- Name and talkWhen a child hears a sound, say the word back to them. Add one small idea, such as where it came from.
- Stop while it is funYoung children tire quickly. End the game while they still want more, and play again another day.
Key words
- ListenUse your ears and stay still so you can hear.
- SoundSomething you can hear.
- LoudA big sound that is easy to hear.
- QuietA soft sound that is hard to hear.
- TickA mark you make to show you found something.
- BingoA game where you look for things on your card.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Read the checklist aloud together. Point to each picture and say its name so your child knows what to listen for.
- Sit very quietly. Wait for a sound, or make one yourself. Your child ticks the matching picture.
- Ask your child to say what made the sound. Talk about it for a moment before the next one.
- Come back to the game another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Be very quiet and listen together. Start with one or two sounds from the list, and point to the picture before you play. Make the sound yourself, slowly and clearly. Let your child look at the picture while they listen. Praise every try.
To stretch confident children
Add your own sound. Ask your child to think of a sound that is not on the list, make it, and let you guess. Then ask them to describe it. Is it loud or quiet, long or short?
Make it a game
Make each sound yourself with your voice, hands or a toy. Your child listens with eyes closed, guesses, then ticks the picture. Swap roles so your child makes a sound for you. Use your voice for the kettle.
Talk about it
- What sound can you hear right now?
- What made that sound?
- Was that sound loud or quiet?
- Where did the sound come from?
- Can you make that sound with your voice?
- What is your favourite sound, and why?
Take it off the page
Sound hunt
Walk around the house or garden with an adult. Stop every few steps and listen. Name each sound you hear.
Quiet and loud
Take turns making a loud sound and a quiet sound with your voice or hands. Ask your child to say which was which.
Copy the sound
Make a short sound, such as a clap or a knock. Ask your child to copy it. Then let your child lead and you copy.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game and let them lead. Keep it short and playful. If a sound is hard to hear, make it yourself and talk about it together.
Teachers
Use it as a carpet time starter, a small group listening game or a quiet table activity. It needs only printing. It links to the EYFS strand Listening, Attention and Understanding, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas.
Home educators
Use it on its own or alongside books, songs and outdoor play. Home educators can repeat it for brothers and sisters, and play it in different rooms to find new sounds.
Where listening skills go next
Before this game, young children notice voices, turn towards sounds and join in with songs and rhymes. Naming everyday sounds is a natural next step. It links what they hear to words they already know.
After this, children can listen to longer stories, follow simple instructions and answer questions about what they heard. Later, listening carefully to the sounds in words supports early phonics. Careful listening is a strong base for all of this.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What sound did you hear, and what made it?
- Which sound was loud and which was quiet?
- What other sounds can you hear right now?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Listening Bingo Sounds Around Us for?
It is written for ages 2 to 4, in the Early Years. Younger children can play with an adult doing most of the work. Older children can read the pictures, make the sounds and take charge of the game.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening, naming and waiting. They notice everyday sounds, match each sound to a picture and say the name of what they heard. This supports the EYFS strand Listening, Attention and Understanding.
- Do I need real sounds for the game?
No. You can wait for sounds to happen, or make them yourself with your voice, hands or a toy. For the kettle, use your voice. Kettles and hot water are for adults only.
- What if my child cannot hear a sound?
Make the sound again, slowly and clearly, and point to the picture. Reduce background noise. Try only a few sounds at a time. Stop and try another day if your child loses interest.
- Is it free to use?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to play a few weeks later when the sounds feel familiar.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, a small group game or a quiet table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Is it screen free, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is screen free and needs only paper and a pencil. No, you do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so it suits rainy days and quiet time.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.