Talk with the Little Lion
Use an animated lion puppet to invite your baby into a back-and-forth exchange. Echo the sounds they make, then offer a few simple new sounds to imitate.
- 4 months
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Language：An expressive puppet performance and a quick response to your baby’s pitch and final sounds encourage them to vocalize and imitate something new.
- Cognitive：Repeated mouth movements, expressions, and gestures give your baby clear patterns to watch and copy.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
A lion hand puppet or favorite stuffed animal
Step 1
The Little Lion Arrives
Bring out the lion puppet with an expressive voice, animated face, and playful sounds. Let the lively entrance catch your baby’s attention and prepare the two of you for a sound exchange.
What to notice
- Smiles or laughs at the lion puppet’s performance
Emotional Functioning - Watches the lion puppet closely
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Any favorite puppet or stuffed animal can take the role. Babies are often drawn to expressive movement and changing sounds.
- Vary the pitch and rhythm of the lion’s voice to make the performance easier to follow.
Step 2
Take Turns with the Lion
Move the lion closer and begin a simple exchange: the lion makes one sound, then pauses for your baby. When your baby vocalizes, echo the ending sound or rhythm before the lion answers again.
What to notice
- Vocalizes after the lion pauses, creating a back-and-forth exchange
Communicating and Speaking - Responds eagerly to you or the lion puppet
Relationships with Adults
Tips
- A questioning or inviting tone can help draw your baby’s attention and leave room for a response.
- Repeating your baby’s sound shows that their turn was heard and can encourage another turn.
- Build the exchange around the toy’s character: a lion on patrol, a bear finding honey, or a mouse looking for cheese.
Step 3
Give the Lion New Sounds
Keep the puppet conversation going and slowly add easy-to-see lip sounds such as b, p, and m. Use a clear mouth shape and an expressive voice, then pause for your baby to try.
What to notice
- Attempts to imitate the end of your sound, even if it is not exact Communicating and Speaking
- Copies a mouth movement or gesture made by you or the lion
Imitation and Symbolic Representation and Play
Tips
- An approximation still counts as an attempt to imitate a new sound.
- Try repeated syllables, animal sounds, or a long final sound and notice which one your baby wants to copy.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026