LittlEARS Item 17

17. Does your child know that a certain sound is related to a certain object or event?

Babies learn and respond to routines! Did you know that we repeat our words, activities, and actions consistently from day to day? Your child will associate certain sounds/words with specific objects or routines. Your child may demonstrate this by:

touching/reaching for or bringing the item
vocalizing, imitating, and/or gesturing for the item
crying/reacting to the item/routine (babies don't always like everything!)
moving, wiggling, physically going towards or to the item/activity

Example Situation

It wouldn't be a morning without your coffee! After taking care of baby, you go into the kitchen and turn on the coffee machine to brew. Your child recognizes the sound of the coffee machine working and immediately runs to the fridge!

"You heard the coffee machine".

After all, you can't take your coffee without your oat milk.

Does your computer play a song when it turns on?

It is time for parent to work!
Open laptop, power on computer
Child looks at you and you reinforce, "You heard parent turn on the computer. It is time to work!"
If child does not look up, you point out the sound: "I heard the computer make noise!"

There are many words and phrases that we use throughout the day. Check out:

https://www.hearingfirst.org/what-to-do/ltl-sounds-and-phrases