When playing animal sound games with toddlers, it's best to make the animals fit within a theme. Toddlers will learn animal sounds more quickly if they are introduced in groups of similar animals. For example, use zoo animals, like tigers and monkeys, for one game and farm animals for another. As the children become more adept at identifying animal sounds, use animals from two different themes during one game to challenge them.
This game utilizes toys that your child already plays with in a new way. Choose as many stuffed animals as you'd like; just remember to use those whose sound your child is already somewhat familiar with. Place the stuffed animals on one end of the room and have your toddler sit on the other end of the room. The objective of the game is for your child to be able to visually associate the sound with the animal itself. To accomplish that, set a clock to one minute, make one animal sound at a time and, when you do, your child will race across the room and retrieve the animal that matches that sound. If he's chosen correctly, he can bring the stuffed animal back to his side, and if he's chosen the wrong animal he'll have to go sit back down empty-handed and wait for the next sound. Continue until the clock runs down.
Make a grid with nine spaces on an unlined piece of paper. Draw a star in the middle of the grid and use it as a free space, then place stickers of various animals in the remaining spaces. Each piece of paper should have a random assortment of animals (you can repeat the same animal on each paper), but try to stick with animals that a toddler will be able to identify. Farm animals, like horses, pigs and cows, work well for this exercise. Each child should sit down at a table with the grid and a pencil to cross through the stickers when he hears the corresponding animal sound called out. The first child to find three animals in a row wins.
Gather five index cards. Think of five animals whose sound your child is somewhat familiar with, such as lions, dogs, cats, horses and pigs. If possible, use markers to draw one of each animal on an index card. Another option is to print off images of the animals and glue them onto the index cards or use animal stickers. To play the game, shuffle the cards face down, choose one at random and place it face up on your forehead without looking at it. Ask your child to replicate the sound that animal makes to help you identify the card that's on your forehead. After you've gone through all of the cards, switch places so that your child must guess the animal while you make the sound.