Education,  Lifestyle

How to develop Listening Skills in children.

The person who coined the phrase ‘A teacher’s job is never done’ must have definitely been a teacher. Yes, teaching has been the right profession for me; I can simply say that it enhances the creativity and eagerness to keep learning. When I  reflect over my years of teaching, realizing that what was relevant teaching back then is not so effective in today’s classroom scenario.

What Children of today want.

Children want more and have a thirst for knowledge. They want to reason, question and think rather than take instructions, listen and do. We have to be facilitators in the learning environment. Children learn more in their first five years of life, learning while doing and they absorb like a sponge.

Constantly developing teaching methods to make the teaching.

Making the learning process more enjoyable while not being monotonous should be a teachers first priority.  Earlier I shed light on the importance of recycling waste to make Art and Craft  which can be incorporated in the classroom. Today I wish to shed light on listening skills, the first and foremost communication skill required for learning.

6 Games to enhance listening skills

1. Freeze/ Statue Dance

All you need is a song and a pause button. Invite children to dance freely to the music. After a short time press pause and wait for everyone to freeze. After a second of stillness start the music again? Be prepared for giggles and some really fun poses! This enhances a child’s listening power while adding fun to any situation- Classroom or party.

Statue game is a hit in classrooms

2. Bunny Says

This game is just like ‘Simon Says’ but with a difference. Get one child to come ahead of the class and give him a pair of Bunny ears to wear. He becomes the leader and makes the other children do actions and tasks of his choice. This helps children listen to understand cautiously to follow their leader’s tasks.

108_2092
Choose a shy child to be the leader

3. Thumbs up/ Thumbs down
This is a game that can be played in any general awareness topic, literacy, or numeracy topic done in class. Eg – The children have to show ‘ Thumbs up’ when you say words beginning with ‘a’ sound. So when words like apple, alligator, axe, ambulance is said by the teacher the children show thumbs up sign, and thumbs down for any other word called out. This aids in learning and reasoning while enjoying, it also develops social skills.

Kids love the Thumbs up game

4.Experiential Learning
A walk around the school can be an opportunity to discuss the difference between ‘weeds’ and ‘plants’. Use words with more than one meaning, such as ‘bank’, and explain that certain words have many different meanings. Using new words and talking about words, will broaden the child’s vocabulary, while breaking the monotony of sitting in one place to learn the subject.

Make children listen to sounds in Nature

5. Story Telling
Reading aloud to children not only enhances listening but also increases their vocabulary, knowledge of the world, and understanding of story structure. Afterwards, have them answer some questions about the book. Ask what happened at the beginning, middle, and/or end of the story. To help know moral of each story.

Story time
Children enjoy and learn effectively  through stories

6. Clapping Game
A simple clapping game that makes children follow the rhythm and do the same.The teacher makes the children listen to a number pf words she calls out, children will have to pay attention and clap on the rhymes.
eg- Egg and leg – they clap
But Door- shoe they don’t clap
This is so enjoyable and children don’t realize they are listening and following rhythms and patterns while doing the task assigned.

Listen and clap
Clap your hands and learn along.

To conclude, the process of developing listening skills in young students will also help develop their verbal and mental capacities. The shy child will learn to ask questions and the non-English speaking child will be curious and want to learn more. Always use proper grammar when speaking to the children. So let’s explore and give our children the best.

Images in my post have been taken from the Internet 🙂

A preschool teacher, social media influencer, lifestyle & food blogger. Added hobbies are travel, movies, and fashion, going for events, socializing, networking and making new friends.

3 Comments

  • Purnima Nanavati

    Omg!I wish i was ur student.All my school life i struggled.I was a very shy student in class.I was always a first-bencher.Only when i said present miss,my teacher use to say now we all knw purnima is in class.I always completed all my home-work.But i started getting bullied from class4.A girl called saroj use to beat me up and take my home-work.When i complained at home,in school things got worse.This i faced till std 7th.Then my mom was worried sick by then as i was always coming back either beaten or my tiffin eaten.She took me to T.S.Jawahar and i was standing in line of 350 cadets.When my turn came capt rabi ahuja asked me,why do u want to join the navy?U r the only girl student and i said meekly so tht i can beat my bully and get strong.Tht place toughened me up and shyness went out of the window.My bro’s kid is just as shy as me and we are worried she will veer my way.I am sharing this article with my brother as its a true insight.Thanks much teacher.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.