Living in the city, our days are frequently punctuated with siren sounds, car horns, and choppers overhead.

To help our baby make sense of these audio interruptions, we use these three steps.

1. Acknowledge The Sound In Real-Time

When our conversations or quiet moments get interrupted by sirens or helicopters, we try to acknowledge it.

Often we pause and say something like: 

“I hear something. Do you hear it?”

“I think it's outside.”

“What makes that sound?”

“I wonder if it's an airplane/car/fire truck/helicopter!”

“Aah/beep beep/we-ow we-ow/bum-bum-bum”

“It's up-up-up in the sky/driving by!”

“Bye-bye airplane/car/fire truck/helicopter!”

Pausing to watch a garbage truck, or wave to a fire truck, turns the interruption into an activity.

Pausing to watch a garbage truck, or wave to a fire truck, turns the interruption into an activity.

This is also where the PartnerMic™ comes in handy!

2. Practice the Sound During Play

Re-enacting the sound with a toy lets us explain the sound in a quiet environment.

As a bonus, it lets us practice different vocalizations.

Our speech teachers are so helpful in giving us ideas on ways to use the toys to practice vocal sounds.

Re-enacting the sound with a toy lets us explain the sound in a quiet environment.

Here are some of our favorites.

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Fisher-Price® Fire Truck

"ee-ow ee-ow ee-ow"

This mini firetruck from fisher-price® Little People® is perfect for understanding sirens.

There's no distracting lights. And, it doesn't make its own noise (rare for firetruck toys).

This lets us practice the pitch-variation sound using voice.

PlanToys Helicopter

"bum-bum-bum-bum"

We use this cute Plan Toys® helicopter for practicing the helicopter sound.

We got this one second hand, as it was sold out.

3. Read About The Sound

Reading about sounds lets us explain things more deeply, and show the noises in action.

It helps round out baby's understanding of the purpose of the sound.

Reading about sounds lets us explain things more deeply, and show the noises in action.

We've enjoyed using these books so far.

I Am a Fire Truck

This Scholastic® fire truck book has been helpful for explaining how fire trucks help people.

This one is a little more fragile than most board books.

Richard Scarry's Trucks

This mini board book is simple, but adorable.

We love that each page has one truck, making it easy to practice each noise.

And, Richard Scarry's illustrations are always a win!

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We hope that once our baby understands the sounds, they won't be as distracting.

What are the sounds that fill your days?