Fun First Sounds and Words

Children’s first Sounds and Words are often “Fun” sounding.  These can be easier for children to say because they often use early developing sounds (H, P, B, M, W and simple vowels), often repeat themselves, are fun to say, and are motivating to say over and over again.  They are a great way to get talking started.  

Fun Sounds include:

  • Ooh
  • Awww
  • Ohhhh
  • Weee
  • Oh-Oh!
  • Oops!
  • Huh?
  • Mmmmm
  • Mwah (kissing sound)
  • Meow
  • Ouch!
  • Boom!
  • Achoo!
  • Ahhha (yawning sound)
  • Fake laughing “Haha” / “Hehe”
  • Panting like a dog
  • Audible inhalation (breathing in that you can hear)
  • Squeal or scream
  • Grunt with effort
  • Yawn
  • Fake cough
  • Fake sneeze
  • Car/Truck noises
  • Siren noise
  • Fake cry
  • Whine
  • Snore
  • Snort like a pig
  • Slurp with drinking
  • Exhale after drink – Ahhh!
  • Shiver / “Brrrr”
  • Sh! for quiet
  • Growl

Fun Words include:

  • Mmm, mmm, mmm
  • Yay
  • Uh oh
  • Whee
  • Wow
  • Woo hoo
  • Pow
  • Yum Yum
  • Yummy
  • Bye-Bye
  • Hush-Hush
  • Tum-Tum (tummy)
  • Ni-Ni (good night)
  • Neigh Neigh (horse)
  • Moo Moo (cow)
  • Bow-Wow or Woof-Woof  (dog)
  • Nana (banana or Grandma)
  • Wa-Wa (water)
  • Choo Choo
  • Pa-Pa
  • Da-Da
  • Up, up, up
  • Ma-Ma
  • Ya-Ya (yes)
  • No-No (no)

Pick a few and have them come up over and over again. Especially in a routine – something that is the same each time so he will expect to hear the sound.  As you are doing the routine sometimes pause and look expectantly at your child for him to make the sound.  Wait a few seconds and then keep going.  Examples of routines would be saying “up, up, up” as you go up stairs, “Oh oh” when something falls, “Vroom” before a car goes, “brrr” before getting a jacket on, etc.

Adding a gesture or body movement to the sound makes it even more powerful.  Pointing up as you say “up”, showing tickling fingers as you say “hehehe”, holding your hands up as you say “oh oh”, etc.  He will likely be able to copy the gesture before he can copy the sounds but the gesture will make the sounds easier to say and more meaningful.  

I hope these ideas help.

Let me know if you have any questions. You can reach at SLP@SpeechTherapyAtHome.com.

Garth Schindel SLPatHome