One of the most essential skills your child will ever learn is focused listening.
Listening is more than just hearing. Listening is a very intentional process that involves consciously extracting meaning from the sounds we hear. In order for children to listen well, they must learn to focus their attention, block out distractions/competing noise and make a meaningful connection with the message being communicated. Here are a few ways to help build strong listening skills at home:
If you are concerned with your child’s listening and speaking skills please consult your paediatrician. An assessment with an audiologist and speech language pathologist may be warranted.
For more information, please visit the Speech-Language-Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago on Facebook or our website www.slaatt.com.
Sources:
Helping Kids with Learning Disabilities Build Listening Skills by Dr. Kari Miller, LA Special Education Examiner, March 11, 2011.
Listening: More than just hearing by Jan Pierce, M.ED. www.kcparent.com
Listening is more than just hearing. Listening is a very intentional process that involves consciously extracting meaning from the sounds we hear. In order for children to listen well, they must learn to focus their attention, block out distractions/competing noise and make a meaningful connection with the message being communicated. Here are a few ways to help build strong listening skills at home:
- Minimize background noise in the environment (e.g. fans, TV, music, washing machine) or move to a quieter location when conversing with your child.
- Get your child’s attention before expecting him/her to listen to instructions. Call your child’s name and establish eye contact before giving directions or asking questions.
- Stand close and face your child. Stand within arm’s length of your child, get down to the child’s eye level and communicate face to face.
- Speak in a clear voice. Slow down your speech and enunciate words.
- Check for understanding. Ensure that your child understands what is being said. Observe his/her facial expression or ask your child “what did you hear me say?”
- Allow your child time to respond to your questions. Be patient and positive.
- Read a book to your child daily. A simple 10-15 minute read-out-loud activity with your child is powerful. It teaches your child to adopt a physical listening posture and allows them to practice active listening to a story containing rich vocabulary.
- Cook together. Find a simple recipe, read each step of the recipe and follow the directions together.
- Take a listening walk. Go outside with your child with the intention of discovering sounds in nature: e.g. “Shhhh, what do you hear? What is making that sound?”…. “I hear a bird singing, look it’s a kiskadee!”
- Play sound pattern games. Clap your hands/ drum on a table in a variety of different rhythmic patterns and let your child repeat each pattern.
- Be encouraging. Give praise generously. Be positive about your child’s learning and celebrate their progress, even very small steps forward.
- Model good listening as a parent. Be engaged when communicating with your child: remove distractions (e.g. cellphone), maintain eye contact, repeat /discuss the content of your child’s message.
If you are concerned with your child’s listening and speaking skills please consult your paediatrician. An assessment with an audiologist and speech language pathologist may be warranted.
For more information, please visit the Speech-Language-Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago on Facebook or our website www.slaatt.com.
Sources:
Helping Kids with Learning Disabilities Build Listening Skills by Dr. Kari Miller, LA Special Education Examiner, March 11, 2011.
Listening: More than just hearing by Jan Pierce, M.ED. www.kcparent.com