Auditory Sensory Play Ideas

Here are some ideas to fulfill auditory sensory needs for individuals who seek out sound stimulation. These activities can help provide the desired auditory input in a controlled and enjoyable way:

Musical Instruments

   - Drumming: Play on drums or other percussion instruments like bongos, tambourines, or maracas.

   - Keyboard or Piano: Explore different sounds and rhythms on a keyboard or piano.

   - String Instruments: Strum on a guitar, ukulele, or other stringed instruments to create various sounds.

Listening to Music

   - Headphones: Use headphones to listen to music at a preferred volume, choosing songs with strong beats or rhythms.

   - Playlist Creation: Create playlists with different types of music, such as upbeat, calming, or instrumental, depending on the need.

   - Live Music: Attend live music events or listen to street performers.

Sound-Making Toys

   - Noise-Making Toys: Play with toys that produce sounds, like toy pianos, xylophones, or electronic sound boards.

   - Whistles and Horns: Use whistles, kazoos, or small horns to make different kinds of sounds.

   - Wind Chimes: Hang wind chimes and let them create soothing or tinkling sounds.

Vocalising and Singing

   - Karaoke: Engage in home karaoke sessions to sing favorite songs loudly.

   - Humming and Whistling: Encourage / Learn humming, whistling, or singing throughout the day.

   - Chanting and Vocal Play: Use chanting or vocal play, like making animal noises or playing with pitch and volume.

White Noise and Sound Machines

   - White Noise Machines: Use a white noise machine to provide continuous sound that can be soothing.

   - Nature Sounds: Play recordings of nature sounds like rain, ocean waves, or forest ambiance.

   - Sound Apps: Explore sound apps that allow the creation of custom soundscapes or play ambient sounds.

Sound-Exploration Activities

   - Echo Games: Play games where you make sounds and listen to the echo or reverberation, such as in an empty room or canyon.

   - Recording and Playback: Record sounds and then play them back, experimenting with different effects like speeding up or slowing down.

   - Sound Walks: Go on "sound walks" to explore different environments (e.g., parks, busy streets) and focus on the variety of sounds heard.

Interactive Sound Experiences

   - Interactive Sound Apps: Use apps that allow you to create music or sounds by interacting with the screen, such as tapping or swiping.

   - Sound Boards: Create or use sound boards that trigger different noises when buttons are pressed.

   - Digital Drumming: Use digital drumming pads or apps that simulate drumming experiences.

Environmental Sound Exploration

   - Nature Listening: Spend time outdoors, listening to birds, rustling leaves, or flowing water.

   - City Sounds: Explore urban environments, paying attention to the sounds of traffic, construction, or people talking.

   - Home Sounds: Create a sound scavenger hunt at home, identifying various sounds like the ticking clock, the refrigerator hum, or footsteps.

Loud and Vibrational Experiences

   - Concerts: Attend musical performances with loud, immersive sound.

   - Dance Parties: Organize dance parties with loud music and encourage moving to the beat.

   - Vibrational Speakers: Use speakers that vibrate with the sound, placing them on surfaces where the vibrations can be felt as well as heard.

Rhythmic Activities

   - Clapping Games: Play clapping games or rhythmic hand games that involve making patterns of sound with hands.

   - Stomping and Tapping: Engage in stomping, tapping, or body percussion activities that create rhythmic noise.

   - Sound Patterns: Explore creating and repeating sound patterns with different objects, like clapping, snapping, or tapping on surfaces.

Storytelling with Sound Effects

   - Audio Books: Listen to audio books, especially those with dramatic sound effects or expressive narration.

   - Story Creation: Create stories and add sound effects using everyday objects (e.g., crinkling paper for fire, tapping for rain).

   - Radio Plays: Listen to or create radio plays where sound effects play a key role in the storytelling.

Engaging with Technology

   - Video Games: Play video games with dynamic soundscapes, where sound plays a significant role in the experience.

   - Sound Design: Experiment with sound design software or apps to create custom sounds or music tracks.

   - Virtual Reality (VR): Use VR experiences that are rich in auditory stimuli, like virtual concerts or sound-based puzzles.

These activities can help satisfy auditory sensory needs in a way that is enjoyable and engaging, allowing the individual to experience a range of sounds that provide the stimulation they seek. Ensure you are using age appropriate activities & check sounds aren’t too loud

At Moo, we cover lots of activities to reach all sensory seeking developmental needs throughout our classes or at The Secret Garden