Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Listening Bingo Sounds Around Us: Free Printable Game for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Listening Bingo Sounds Around Us is a free printable listening game for ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Children listen for everyday sounds, such as a car, a bird or a kettle, and tick each one when they hear it. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only a pencil, and works indoors or in the garden.
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. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a listening game with a checklist of everyday sounds. They stay still, listen, and tick a sound when they really hear it. The list includes sounds from the home and outdoors, such as a clock, rain, a dog, a tap and a clap. A grown-up sits alongside, helps with names and talks about what each sound might be.
- A car
- A bird
- A door
- A voice
- A clock
- The wind
- A phone
- Rain
- A dog
- A tap
- A kettle
- A clap
Getting ready to play
Choose your spot
Pick a quiet corner, a garden bench or a spot by an open window. Fewer background noises make it easier for young children to notice smaller sounds.
Prepare the sheet
Print page 1 and give your child a pencil or a crayon. A book or clipboard underneath makes ticking easier. Keep page 2 for yourself.
Agree the rule
Explain that we tick a sound only when we hear it for real. Stay quiet for a moment, then listen together. Say the name of each sound aloud.
Why listen for sounds?
Young children learn about the world through their ears long before they read. Noticing and naming sounds around them builds attention, memory and vocabulary. It also teaches them to stop, be still and focus, which is not easy at ages 2 to 4. A short game with a clear purpose makes that practice feel like play.
Many early years settings in England begin sound work by listening to the world around them, before children move on to the sounds in words. Listening for a door, a voice or the wind helps children tune in to differences between sounds. That careful ear is useful later for rhyme, rhythm and early phonics.
A kettle gets very hot. Adults boil the kettle and pour, and children listen from a safe distance and never touch it. If you play outdoors near a road, stay with your child and listen from a safe place away from traffic.
Fun facts about sound
- Sound is made when something vibrates, which means it shakes very quickly.
- Sound travels through the air to reach our ears.
- Sounds can be loud or quiet, and high or low.
- Our ears can pick up sounds from all around us, even when we are not looking.
- Many birds sing or call to send messages to other birds.
Skills and curriculum link
- Careful listening
- Naming everyday sounds
- Patience
- Attention
- Taking turns
- Speaking and vocabulary
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 | Ages 3 to 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can listen carefully to a sound.
- I can name the sound I hear.
- I can match the sound to my bingo card.
Ideas for the grown-up
- Pause firstAsk everyone to be very still for a few seconds before listening. Quiet bodies make it easier to hear.
- Loud and quietTalk about whether a sound is loud or quiet, near or far. This gives children words to describe what they hear.
- Sound wordsTry playful words for sounds, such as tap tap, whoosh or ring ring. Children enjoy copying them.
- Where from?Ask where a sound is coming from. Point to it together. This builds awareness of the space around them.
Key words
- ListenTo use your ears and pay attention to a sound.
- SoundSomething you can hear.
- LoudA sound that is easy to hear, because it is strong.
- QuietA sound that is soft and hard to hear.
- TickA small mark that shows you have found something.
- BingoA game where you look for things on your card and mark them off.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Look at the list together first. Say the name of each sound and talk about what makes it.
- Sit still and listen. When your child hears a sound from the list, they tick it. Play for about 10 minutes.
- Talk about what you heard. Ask what made each sound and whether it was loud or quiet.
- Come back another day, in a different room or outdoors. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Make the sound yourself so your child can match it to the list. Say the name slowly, then listen again together. If the list feels long, focus on just a few sounds at a time and tick those first.
To stretch confident children
Close your eyes and listen for a sound, then name it before ticking. Ask your child to say what made it and whether it was loud or quiet. They can also tell you a sound that is not on the list.
Make it a game
Take turns making a sound without showing what is making it. Everyone else listens with eyes closed and guesses. Use a clap, a tap on the table or a voice. The person who guesses right chooses the next sound.
Talk about it
- What sound did you hear, and what made it?
- Which sounds are quiet and which are loud?
- What other sounds can you hear right now?
- Which sound do you like best? Why?
- Can you make a sound like rain with your fingers?
- Is the sound near or far away?
Take it off the page
Sound walk
Walk around the garden, park or street with a grown-up. Stop every so often and be still. Ask what everyone can hear, then name each sound together.
Sound shaker box
Put small items such as rice or buttons in sealed containers, with an adult closing them firmly. Shake each one and talk about the sound it makes. Keep tiny items away from mouths.
Copy my clap
Clap a short pattern and ask your child to copy it. Try slow and fast, then loud and quiet. Swap so your child leads and you copy.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it relaxed and stop while it is still fun. About 10 minutes is plenty. A rainy afternoon or a quiet moment before tea works well.
Teachers
Use it as a calm starter, a carpet time game or a small group task with an adult. It links to the Early Years Foundation Stage area of Communication and Language, strand Listening, Attention and Understanding. Please check it against your own plans.
Home educators
Print it for a quiet part of the day and add it to your own routines of play, stories and outdoor time. Play it in a different room or in the garden to hear new sounds. It can be reused for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children enjoy songs, nursery rhymes and simple talk about the world around them. They begin to notice sounds, turn towards a voice and name familiar objects. This game builds on that early awareness by adding a clear purpose for listening.
After this, children can move on to clapping rhythms, joining in with finger rhymes and listening to stories. Later they learn to hear the sounds in words, which supports early phonics. Clap the Rhythm Cards and Finger Rhyme Action Sheet are good next steps.
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 sounds are quiet and which are loud?
- 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 Early Years. Younger children will need a grown-up to help name sounds and point to the list. Older children can tick on their own and talk about what they heard.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes. Children can listen for longer if they are enjoying it, but short sessions work best at this age. Stop while it is still fun and come back to it another day.
- What will children practise?
They practise careful listening and naming everyday sounds. They also practise patience, staying still for a moment and sharing what they notice. The game supports speaking and vocabulary as children talk about each sound.
- What if it feels too hard?
Make the sound yourself so your child can match it to the list. Say the name slowly, then listen together again. You can also tick only a few sounds at a time and finish the rest later.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to play again in a different place such as the garden.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children look, listen and talk with a grown-up instead of looking at a screen.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, a carpet time game or a small group activity with an adult. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to Listening, Attention and Understanding in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
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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.