Engaging children in sound play is a powerful, yet often overlooked, pathway to fostering holistic health and development. Beyond the simple joy of making noise, sound play actively stimulates cognitive functions, enhances emotional regulation, hones fine and gross motor skills, and builds crucial social connections. This guide cuts through the noise to provide actionable, practical strategies for incorporating enriching sound play into daily routines, ensuring a profound and lasting positive impact on a child’s well-being.
The Resonant Foundation: Why Sound Play Matters for Health
Sound is fundamental to how children perceive and interact with their world. From the earliest babbles to complex linguistic expressions, sound shapes their understanding, communication, and emotional landscape. Integrating deliberate sound play activities provides a rich sensory experience that directly underpins various aspects of health:
- Auditory Processing & Language Development: Regular exposure to diverse sounds and opportunities to create them strengthen auditory discrimination, the ability to differentiate between sounds. This is a critical precursor to speech and language acquisition, allowing children to recognize phonemes, understand rhythm, and develop clear articulation.
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Cognitive Agility & Problem-Solving: Sound play encourages active listening, memory retention (think of remembering song lyrics or rhythmic patterns), and cause-and-effect understanding (e.g., hitting a drum harder makes a louder sound). These experiences build neural connections vital for problem-solving and critical thinking.
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Emotional Regulation & Self-Expression: Music and sound are powerful emotional conduits. Engaging in sound play allows children to express feelings, manage stress, and explore a range of emotions in a safe and creative outlet. Calming sounds can soothe, while energetic rhythms can release pent-up energy, contributing to emotional balance.
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Fine & Gross Motor Skill Development: The physical act of producing sound, whether through manipulating instruments, clapping, dancing, or moving, directly refines both fine and gross motor skills. From the delicate coordination needed to pluck a string to the full-body movement of dancing, sound play promotes physical dexterity and coordination.
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Social Connection & Empathy: Group sound play fosters cooperation, turn-taking, and shared experiences. Children learn to listen to others, respond in kind, and build a sense of belonging, developing crucial social-emotional skills like empathy and collaboration.
Orchestrating Engagement: Practical Strategies for Sound Play
The beauty of sound play is its accessibility. It doesn’t require expensive equipment; many of the most effective tools are already around the house or found in nature. The key is intentionality and a playful, open-ended approach.
Harnessing the Power of the Human Voice: Vocal Play for Core Development
The most accessible and versatile sound-making instrument is the human voice. Engaging in vocal play builds foundational speech skills, emotional expression, and auditory awareness.
- Mimicry and Echo Games:
- Actionable Explanation: Start by making a simple sound or short phrase and encourage your child to imitate it. Vary the pitch, volume, and tempo.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Moo!” (low, sustained sound) – Child repeats “Moo!”
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“Whee!” (high, excited sound) – Child repeats “Whee!”
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“Shhh…” (soft, elongated sound, with a finger to lips) – Child imitates the sound and gesture.
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Echo a child’s babbling: If they say “ba-ba-ba,” respond with “ba-ba-ba-da.” This validates their sounds and subtly introduces new phonetic combinations.
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Incorporate animal sounds: “What does a dog say? Woof-woof!” Encourage them to make the sound and perhaps even the accompanying action.
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Sound Storytelling:
- Actionable Explanation: Create a narrative and punctuate it with vocal sound effects. Encourage your child to contribute or guess the sounds.
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Concrete Examples:
- “The little car went brrrm, brrrm down the road. Then it stopped at the traffic light, squeeeal! A bird flew by, tweet-tweet-tweet.”
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Use sounds to describe actions: “The giant stomped, thump-thump-thump, and then whispered, shhh, don’t wake the princess.”
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“What sound does a clock make? Tick-tock, tick-tock.”
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“When we sip our juice, what sound does it make? Slurp-slurp!“
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Voice Volume and Pitch Exploration:
- Actionable Explanation: Play games where you exaggerate vocal volume (loud/soft) and pitch (high/low), inviting your child to experiment. This helps them understand and control their own vocalizations.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Can you whisper like a mouse?” (very soft voice) “Can you roar like a lion?” (very loud voice).
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“Let’s sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ in a high, squeaky voice!” Then, “Now let’s sing it in a deep, booming voice!”
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“Make your voice go up, up, up like a rocket! whoosh-EEEE!” and “Make your voice go down, down, down like a submarine! doh-doh-doh-down.”
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Rhythmic Chants and Rhymes:
- Actionable Explanation: Engage in simple, repetitive chants and rhymes that emphasize rhythm and sound patterns. This builds phonological awareness.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Clap, clap, clap your hands, 1-2-3! Stamp, stamp, stamp your feet, happily!”
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Simple tongue twisters or made-up nonsense rhymes: “Bumble-bee, fuzzy flea, jump with me!”
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“Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock, tick-tock, tick-tock.” Emphasize the rhythmic sounds.
Exploring Found Sounds: Everyday Objects as Musical Instruments
The world is full of potential instruments. Encouraging children to discover and manipulate “found sounds” cultivates creativity, auditory awareness, and an understanding of how different materials produce different sounds.
- Kitchen Percussion Section:
- Actionable Explanation: Gather pots, pans, wooden spoons, plastic containers, and metal lids. Demonstrate how hitting different surfaces with different implements creates varying sounds.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Listen! This pot makes a boooom when I hit it with the spoon. What about this plastic bowl? tap-tap-tap.”
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Use different kitchen items to create a “beat”: “Can you make a fast beat on the pan? Now a slow beat on the bowl.”
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Fill plastic bottles or containers with different dry materials (rice, beans, pasta, pebbles, cotton balls) to create shakers. “Which one is loudest? Which one is softest? Can you guess what’s inside by the sound?”
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Nature’s Orchestra:
- Actionable Explanation: Take a “sound walk” outdoors. Encourage children to listen for and identify sounds from nature, then experiment with creating similar sounds using natural objects.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Listen! Can you hear the birds chirping? tweet-tweet.” Then, find two small sticks and tap them together to mimic a bird’s beak.
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“Hear the rustling leaves? swish-swish.” Gather some dry leaves and crunch them in your hands or rub them together.
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“What about the wind? whooooosh.” Encourage them to blow air through cupped hands to make a similar sound.
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Tap on different tree barks or rocks. “Does this tree sound hollow? Does this rock make a sharp sound?”
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Body Percussion and Movement:
- Actionable Explanation: Use body parts to create rhythms and sounds. Combine these with movement to enhance gross motor skills and coordination.
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Concrete Examples:
- Clapping hands, snapping fingers, stomping feet, patting thighs, tapping cheeks.
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“Let’s clap a fast rhythm, then a slow rhythm.”
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“Can you stomp your feet like a giant? Now tiptoe like a mouse.”
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Play “Follow the Leader” with body sounds: You clap a pattern, and they copy. Then they create a pattern for you.
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“Freeze Dance”: Play music and have them dance freely. When the music stops, they freeze. This sharpens listening skills and impulse control.
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Water Play Sounds:
- Actionable Explanation: Introduce water and various containers in a safe environment. Explore the sounds water makes when poured, splashed, or dripped.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Listen to the glug-glug-glug as I pour water from this cup into the bowl.”
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“What sound does a drip make? drip-drop, drip-drop.”
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Use different-sized bottles to create “water flutes” by blowing across the opening (with supervision for younger children).
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Splash hands in water: “Big splash! whoosh! Little splash! plink!“
Structured Sound Exploration: Simple Instruments and Organized Activities
While found sounds are fantastic, introducing simple, child-friendly instruments and structured activities can deepen their understanding of sound properties and musical concepts.
- Homemade Instrument Workshops:
- Actionable Explanation: Guide children in creating their own simple instruments, fostering a sense of ownership and understanding of sound production.
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Concrete Examples:
- Maracas: Empty plastic bottles or toilet paper rolls filled with rice, beans, or beads, sealed with tape or caps. Decorate them. “Shake your maraca fast! Now shake it slow!”
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Drums: Upside-down pots, sturdy cardboard boxes, or oatmeal containers with balloons stretched over the opening (secured with rubber bands). “What sounds can you make with your drum? Can you make a soft sound? A loud sound?”
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Rubber Band Guitars: Stretch different-sized rubber bands around an empty tissue box. Pluck the bands. “Which string makes a high sound? Which one makes a low sound?”
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Pan Flutes: Cut drinking straws to different lengths and tape them together. Blow across the tops to create different notes.
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Sound Matching and Identification Games:
- Actionable Explanation: Create activities where children listen to sounds and match them, or identify the source. This refines auditory discrimination.
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Concrete Examples:
- Listening Jars: Fill opaque containers (e.g., film canisters, small plastic eggs) with pairs of identical items (e.g., two with rice, two with coins, two with paperclips). Children shake two jars and try to find the matching sounds.
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“Guess That Sound”: Hide an object that makes a distinct sound (e.g., keys jingling, paper crinkling, bell ringing) behind your back or under a cloth. Make the sound and have the child guess what it is.
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Sound Scavenger Hunt: Give children a list of sounds to find (e.g., “something that clangs,” “something that whistles,” “something that rustles”) and have them bring back the objects or point them out.
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Rhythm and Beat Play:
- Actionable Explanation: Introduce basic rhythmic concepts through clapping, drumming, and simple chants.
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Concrete Examples:
- Clap and Repeat: Clap a simple rhythm, then have your child clap it back. Gradually increase complexity.
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Drum Circle: Provide several drums (homemade or store-bought) and invite children to play along to a simple beat you set, or take turns leading.
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Musical Statues/Freeze Dance: Play music, and when it stops, everyone freezes in place until the music restarts. This is excellent for listening and impulse control.
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Name Rhythms: Clap out the rhythm of each child’s name: “Ma-ry” (two claps), “A-lex-an-der” (four claps).
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Sensory Sound Bins:
- Actionable Explanation: Create a bin filled with various materials that produce interesting sounds when manipulated, encouraging open-ended exploration.
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Concrete Examples:
- Fill a bin with dried pasta, rice, and small bells. Provide scoops, funnels, and empty containers. Children can pour, scoop, and listen to the sounds.
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A bin with different types of fabric scraps (silk, corduroy, denim) that make different rustling or rubbing sounds.
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A bin with large, smooth stones, wooden blocks, and metal pieces that clink and clunk together.
Integrating Sound Play into Daily Routines: Making It Natural and Seamless
The most effective sound play isn’t a separate “activity” but a natural part of a child’s day.
- Morning Wake-Up Sounds:
- Actionable Explanation: Use gentle sounds to signal the start of the day and promote a calm awakening.
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Concrete Examples:
- Play soft, calming music.
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Use a wind chime or gentle bell.
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Sing a quiet, welcoming song.
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Mealtime Acoustics:
- Actionable Explanation: Turn meal preparation and eating into opportunities for sound exploration.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Listen to the chop-chop-chop of the vegetables!”
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“Hear the sizzle of the eggs in the pan?”
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“What sound does crunchy celery make? CRUNCH!“
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“Slurp your soup! Can you make a slurp sound?”
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Bath Time Rhythms:
- Actionable Explanation: The bathroom provides unique acoustics and water-based sound opportunities.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Splash, splash, splash!” as they play in the water.
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“Drip, drip, drip” as water comes from the faucet.
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Use plastic cups to pour water, listening to the glug-glug sounds.
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Sing bath time songs, incorporating splashing or tapping sounds.
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Transition Tunes:
- Actionable Explanation: Use specific songs or sounds to signal transitions, helping children anticipate and prepare for changes in activity.
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Concrete Examples:
- A “cleanup song” with a distinct rhythm.
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A “time to go” jingle.
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A short, simple chime or bell ring to indicate “listening time” or “quiet time.”
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Bedtime Serenity:
- Actionable Explanation: Incorporate calming sounds and music to help children wind down and prepare for sleep, promoting restful sleep which is crucial for overall health.
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Concrete Examples:
- Soft lullabies or gentle singing.
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Nature sounds (rain, ocean waves, gentle crickets) played quietly.
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A chime or singing bowl struck once to signal “sleepy time.”
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Reading a story with quiet, descriptive sound effects.
Cultivating a Sound-Rich Environment: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Creating an environment conducive to sound play is as important as the activities themselves.
- Prioritize Active Listening:
- Actionable Explanation: Model active listening by pausing and drawing attention to sounds in the environment. This helps children tune into their auditory world.
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Concrete Examples:
- “Shh! Do you hear that? That’s the washing machine spinning!”
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“Listen to the birds outside! What kind of sound are they making?”
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When reading, pause and ask, “What sound do you think the train makes here?”
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Reduce Background Noise:
- Actionable Explanation: Minimize distractions like constant television or loud music when engaging in sound play to allow children to focus on specific sounds.
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Concrete Examples:
- Turn off the TV during playtime dedicated to sound exploration.
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Create a quiet corner for listening activities.
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Follow the Child’s Lead:
- Actionable Explanation: Observe what sounds or instruments capture your child’s interest and build upon that. Enthusiasm is key to engagement.
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Concrete Examples:
- If they repeatedly gravitate towards banging on a drum, offer different mallets or surfaces to explore varying drum sounds.
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If they are fascinated by a particular animal sound, incorporate it into more songs or stories.
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Embrace Repetition with Variation:
- Actionable Explanation: Children learn through repetition. Offer familiar sound activities, but introduce small variations to keep them engaged and deepen learning.
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Concrete Examples:
- Sing a favorite song, but try singing it faster, slower, louder, or softer.
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Repeat a sound-making game, but change the objects used or the sequence of sounds.
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Focus on Process, Not Perfection:
- Actionable Explanation: The goal is exploration and engagement, not musical mastery. Praise effort and participation over “correct” sounds.
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Concrete Examples:
- “I love how you made that loud sound with the pot!” (instead of “That wasn’t quite the rhythm”).
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“You’re making so many interesting noises with your voice!”
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Make it Multi-Sensory:
- Actionable Explanation: Combine sound play with other sensory experiences (sight, touch, movement) to enhance learning and engagement.
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Concrete Examples:
- Use visually stimulating instruments or objects.
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Incorporate actions or movements with sounds (e.g., stomping feet while making a deep sound).
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Allow children to feel the vibrations of instruments or sound-making objects.
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Document and Celebrate Discoveries:
- Actionable Explanation: Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s sound explorations to reinforce their efforts and encourage continued engagement.
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Concrete Examples:
- “You discovered that tapping the glass bottle makes a high sound!”
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Record their “compositions” on your phone and play them back.
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Draw pictures together of the sounds they heard on a “sound walk.”
The Symphony of Well-being
Engaging children in sound play is a simple, yet profound, investment in their health and developmental trajectory. By consciously incorporating vocal exploration, found sounds, simple instruments, and thoughtful integration into daily routines, parents and caregivers can unlock a symphony of benefits. This proactive approach not only enriches a child’s sensory world but also lays down strong foundations for language, cognition, emotional resilience, and social competence, ensuring a harmonious and healthy path forward.