Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
Monster Roar and Whisper
Alternate between roaring like a monster and whispering like a mouse.
Activity details
Instructions
- Stand facing each other with space to move
- Say: 'Let's be monsters! Can you ROAR?'
- Roar together — as loud and big as you can
- Then quickly switch: 'Now... can you be a tiny mouse? Whisper!'
- Whisper something together — anything silly works
- Go back and forth several times, getting faster
- Add body movements: big stomps for monster, tiptoes for mouse
- End on whisper mode: 'The mouse is sleepy now...'
What success looks like
Flushed cheeks, big smiles, and a calmer child afterwards. If they want to do it again, you’ve found a winner.
Take turns being loud and quiet: 'ROAR like a monster!' then 'Now whisper like a tiny mouse.' The game teaches children that they can control their volume and intensity — a physical experience of regulation. Moving between extremes helps them understand that feelings have a range and that they have the power to shift between states, which is the foundation of self-control.
Why it helps
Zero to Three suggests 'making angry lion faces and growling' as one of the acceptable ways to help toddlers express big feelings physically. Pairing a monster roar with a whisper teaches the toddler to control the volume dial — they can be loud and big without losing control, then drop straight into quiet again. That voice modulation is itself a regulation skill, and it's deeply funny in a way that defuses tension before it builds.
Variations
- Add other animals and volumes: elephant (loud), butterfly (silent), puppy (medium).
- Use a 'volume dial' — pretend to turn a knob that controls how loud everyone is.
- For older toddlers, let them be the one who calls out 'MONSTER!' or 'MOUSE!'
Safety tips
- Be mindful of noise levels if you have neighbours or a sleeping baby.
- Keep the roaring playful, not aggressive — model a silly monster, not a scary one.
- If your toddler gets overstimulated by the roaring, skip to gentler animals.
Get weekly activity ideas for your toddler
One email a week with practical toddler activities, behaviour tips, and developmental insights. No spam, unsubscribe any time.