I think that the best communicators I know are those people who are the best listeners. Having good social skills and being a strong communicator does not mean that we talk longer and louder than anyone else or that we jump into conversations with everyone. We can teach our children how to listen and how to be good listeners, and their communication and social skills will improve…
Good listening schools do not just pay off in improved communication. Children and individuals who are good listeners are also better learners in school since they are able to absorb the information being taught and shared. I also think that good listeners work well in small group projects and may do better on sports teams and in extracurricular activities. Being able to quiet ourselves and pay attention, absorbing what is being said and how is very important.
I think we can start by modeling good listening skills with our children. They will get a great deal from us if they experience our being able to listen to what they have to say and see us listening when we are interacting with others. Demonstrating active listening skills when we are talking with our kids and others will teach our children how they can use those same techniques.
Give a child opportunity to listen—read story books and tell stories and jokes. Riddles and jokes can be a fun way to encourage careful listening since many can be figured out with acute listening skills. Listening and active listening are not the same thing as sitting passively and watching television. Children need to have practice listening to adults and other children in a variety of situations in order to develop strong skills—going to plays and performances, story times at the library, presentations, and activities can be good ways of helping a child develop listening skills too.
See Also: The EDUCATION Blog