Our voices can be soft or loud. Good listeners know that the place decides how loud we should be.
Key idea
Use a soft inside voice in homes, classrooms, stores and libraries. Save loud outside voices for the playground.
Why it works
Inside, people are close together. Loud voices bother people who are reading, working or resting. Outside, there is room for big voices.
Think of your voice like a radio with a knob. Turn it down for inside places. Turn it up a little for outside play.
Worked example: Let's practice
Sam is on the playground. He wants Hana to come over. Is a loud voice okay?
- The playground is an outside place.
- People are running and playing.
- A loud call is fine there.
Answer: Yes. Sam can call, “Over here, Hana!”
Common mistake
Using a playground voice indoors when you are excited. Being excited is great! But the place decides how loud we should be.
For the grown-up. Make a “voice meter” together: 1 is a whisper, 2 an inside voice, 3 a playground voice. Before going somewhere, ask, “What number is this place?”