Listening Skills
To develop good listening skills, a child needs to know vocabulary and grammar. You can develop good listening skills early on during play, yes play!
Below are fun games to play with your child. Make sure you have fun and praise your child for good listening!
Top 5 games that target listening skills
1. Simon Says
According to Wikipedia, this game has been around since 1264. Pretty cool, if you ask me!
How To Play: The leader says “Simon says.....and then a direction.” For example, the leader says “Simon says turn around.” Everyone playing has to turn around. If the leader does not say “Simon says” before giving a direction, then the direction is not to be followed. If a person follows a direction without hearing “Simon says” first, he or she loses.
Why Play? This works on following directions and attention.
2. Treasure Hunt
This is my invention to work on receptive language or listening abilities.
How To Play: Hide a “prize” somewhere in the house. Give your child directions to follow to find the treasure. Be silly. For example, if you hide a toy under the bed. First say, jump 3 times. Touch your toes. Walk through the door. Pick up the bear and put it down. Look under the bed. Children will find it funny.
Why Play? This game will work on following directions and listening. You can make it as easy or hard as you want to!
3. Clean Up Game
This may be the easiest to do as we need or should clean up every day!
How To Play: Take turns giving directions for what to clean up. Have your child give you directions and you give your child directions. Your child will have fun telling mommy and daddy what to do!
Why Play?: The house will get cleaned AND your child will work on listening. Multi-tasking at its best!
4. Sticker Game
This may be the easiest to do as we need or should clean up every day!
How To Play: Take turns giving directions for what to clean up. Have your child give you directions and you give your child directions. Your child will have fun telling mommy and daddy what to do!
Why Play?: The house will get cleaned AND your child will work on listening. Multi-tasking at its best!
5. Reading (my favorite listening skills "game")
If you only have time to try one game today, try reading! It really is the best way to build vocabulary skills.
How To Play: When reading with your child, don’t just rush through and just read the words. Instead, point to pictures while you read. Talk about the illustrations. Ask feeling questions such as "how does the character feel?” Ask other WH questions like when, where, who? You can even ask prediction questions such as "what do you think will happen next?” Your child may not be able to answer these questions; however, you can answer the questions! Talk about your thinking process. Your child will learn how to answer questions and how to think about stories by listening to you!
Why Play?: Instilling a love for reading at a young age will only benefit your child! While reading, you work on vocabulary, listening abilities, grammar, story structure, answering questions, and more!
Other Needed Skills
To follow directions and listen well, children need to a have a:
- Solid vocabulary base (they need to understand what they hear!) Read about how to improve vocabulary to help listening skills here.
- Good working memory. Click here for information on working memory and tips on how to practice memory.
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There will be a variety of language and articulation materials that can be used to support listening skills. I will also give tips on how to use the materials!