Developing Listening Skills
Facts about communication skills:
à 45% of our day we listen
à 30% of our day we speak
à 16% of our day we read
à 9% of our day we write
à We spend the least amount of time teaching a skill that we use the most of!
à Listening is a learned skill.
à Through focused and directed efforts, parents can teach their children better listening habits.
Reasons Kids Don’t Listen
à Kids have poor attention spans.
à Kids are focused on something else.
à Kids are not warned ahead of time.
à Kids are tired, hungry, not feeling well.
à Child could have a hearing, attention, or processing issue.
à Parents talk too much.
à Parents can be critical, judgmental, and nagging.
à Parents tell kids what to do all the time.
à Parents words do not mean anything.
à Parents do not follow through.
à Parents do not listen well so child does not listen well.
à Parents are distracted with their own issues, needs, and wants.
Ways to help your child listen better:
à Listen to your child the way you want them to listen to you
à Make eye contact
à Bend down and get to their eye level
à Do not interrupt
à Watch your tone of voice
à Be aware of your facial reactions
à See things from your child’s perspective
à Know when to talk and when not to talk
à Compliment your child when they display good listening habits
à Talk less, use fewer words
à Ask child to summarize what you said
à Use gentle touch to gain their attention
à Stop what you are doing and focus on them
à Be firm, clear, simple
à Say it only once and then take action
Listening is a skill that is essential for school success. It is a key to good communication. It is a tool needed to build and maintain relationships with people.
Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator
(952)-758-1673
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