Encourage active listening

Direct children to look at the speaker or turn to face them, make eye contact and notice the speaker’s body language. Get them to notice changes in tone by asking how they think the speaker feels. Emphasise listening with the intention of understanding. When they are listening to music, encourage them to follow along with the lyrics instead of simply listening to the melody. When in a conversation, help them get into the habit of listening attentively without thinking of a response while the other person is speaking. You can support this by giving them extra time to formulate their responses without any pressure to fill the silence. 

Activities to practise listening skills

Play games like Simon Says, which will require them to listen and follow instructions or Guess Who?, which will train them to listen, sift out relevant information and use it. Read stories and nursery rhymes to them. Ask them to recollect information from an earlier part of the story, get them to share their opinions, or ask them to guess what happens next. This will prompt them to stay engaged and listen for details. Having conversations about their interests and your own interests will teach them about give and take when disclosing information about themselves and about creating a balance between leading a conversation and listening. 

Create a suitable environment

Try to create an environment that facilitates good listening. Limit distractions such as having many devices playing different sounds while trying to talk to your child. You can also teach them to make listening easier for themselves by identifying scenarios where it might be harder to follow someone while they speak. For example, encourage your child to ask the speaker (politely!) to slow down if they are speaking too fast or to use different terms to explain something that might be unclear. Don’t forget that good listening skills apply in group settings just as they do in one on one conversations and reinforce listening rules in these different environments. 

Model good listening behaviours

When a child is speaking to you, set a good example by showing that you are listening actively. Making eye contact, nodding and repeating what’s being said back to them will show that you are still listening and act as a cue for them to continue speaking. Asking relevant questions will signal to them that you are following what they are saying, that you understand, and that you are interested in what they have to say.  Avoid interrupting them or being engaged in other things while they speak to you. Good luck!