![]() ![]() ![]() Make a game out of following directions.Like any other skill, active listening is only improved through regular practice: Now that you know the basic steps, set aside times during your day to help your child apply these simple techniques. Also, the answer you get will lead to a deeper understanding of the message. Doing so demonstrates that you heard what was said. When the speaker is finished, summarize and repeat the important information you heard.Nod, smile and use short words of agreement to show you are following along. Look at the other person’s face and pay attention to their words.While the other person is speaking, don’t think of a response or your own opinion.Here are the basic components of active listening: Experts have developed techniques for active listening, which help train the mind to attend to another person’s conversation and absorb what they’re saying. When these factors combine in a child who is already struggling with attention challenges, it’s no wonder the child has a hard time listening.Įven if we’re terrible listeners, it is possible to help your child improve this skill. These mental gymnastics seriously affect our ability to really hear and absorb what was said. Even when we think we’re listening, we may be formulating a response or preplanning what the other person will say before they’ve finished. ![]() We all know from experience that our mind wanders during a conversation. The reason is distractions, including as screen time, that vie for our attention. Often we remember only 25 to 50 percent of what we heard! Unfortunately, many people-both adults and children-absorb little of what is said to them. In addition to playing, working and talking ourselves, we spend about 45 percent of our waking hours listening to others. Not only do we learn from others, but we gain a sense of well-being and happiness from those daily interactions. Just how can we help our kids learn to use active listening to ensure they are actually absorbing the content they hear? Let’s explore the benefits of active listening, a form of mindfulness, and check out some easy exercises to use at home for improved listening skills.Ĭonversation is the basis of most human interaction, and interaction with others is, of course, an important aspect of human life. But the skill of listening may prove difficult for children who are living with anxiety or attention-deficit issues. After all, that’s how they will learn new information, acquire new skills, make new friends, learn to “get” a joke and become empathetic toward other people. Does the old saying “it went in one ear and out the other” apply to your child’s ability to hear and remember the gist of a conversation? Does your child seem to zone out when you’re giving instructions for a task or when a friend is telling a story? It’s important for kids to be good listeners. ![]()
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