Boost Your Child’s Communication & Listening Skills

Learning

Communication is the key feature when it comes to succeeding in life. From personal relationships to successful professional careers, a person with great communication skills can have it all. All of us in society have our own ways to communicate and express ourselves to other people.

Though when it comes to children, communication does play a pivotal role. At times, children are unable to grasp what parents are telling them and vice versa. As a parent, it is your responsibility to cultivate a healthy communication channel at home and between you and your child. None else can help children better than their parents as they spend majority of their time at home surrounded by family members.

To make this easier for you as a parent, we have gathered some of the most successful tips to culminate a healthy communication channel. We connected with some of the teachers and professionals at the top schools in Gurgaon, such as Alpine Convent School to encompass a strategy that you can try with your child. Read ahead to find out how can we boost your child’s communication & listening skills-

Understand the importance of active listening

Apart from expressing oneself, which we will explain in another part, active listening is extremely important for children. Children have short attention spans, so you need to be extremely careful when exchanging information. If they are not actively listening, they will not retain any information, whether at home or at school. In active listening, the receiver understands the speaker and absorbs the information. You will have to maintain eye contact with the child and ask open-ended questions, where the child will have to answer you about what you just told them.

Give Appropriate Time To Answer Questions

What you need to understand is that the child is still trying to process the information you have imparted. So when you ask questions, give them the time to answer your question. If you will rush them into giving answers they might fumble and speak the wrong things even if they know the answer. We all have dealt with this situation in our childhood, and you never know, you little one might surprise you!

Try Storytelling

This one is the best trick in the book. You can arrange storytelling sessions for your child. Try to make the session unique by throwing in some audio and visuals to capture their interest. In the end of the story, you should ask some easy questions related to the story. You can ask interesting questions in between. This will help you to know whether your child is interested or not.

Don't’ Forget To Talk To Your Child

We understand that after a tiring day at the office or completing a lot of house chores made you feel tired but skip talking to the children. Majority of the children face a hard time communicating because no one talks to them at home. You can simply ask your children about their day, explain to them how your day went or tell them a funny story during car rides. Throw in new phrases and words while starting your sentences but make sure not to overload the information as it may confuse them. This activity will help you unburden yourself too.

Teach And Use Respectful Vocabulary

There are vulnerable moments when we all get angry and you may face these moments too. However, refrain from using abusive or derogatory words in front of your child. Also, if your children get angry and use bad words, you should let them know that it is not acceptable under any circumstances. Teach them about the words with wrong means and that they should never use them if they have heard it from somewhere. Children often hear new words and use them without knowing the meaning. These terms may hurt someone’s sentiments as well. 

Teach Them Empathy

Empathy is extremely important in order to be a good communicator. It is an extremely beautiful trait and every parent should try to instill the same in their little ones. With empathy everyone can help each other and make this world a beautiful place to live in. Teach your child how to listen when others are speaking and how to say comforting words when required. This will help them to be more respectful towards other people’s feelings.

Encourage The Habit Of Writing Daily

Writing in a diary or as we call it Journaling is an extremely therapeutic way of finding clarity about one’s thoughts. Writing down what the child is feeling will help them calm themselves. This will also help them in communicating their feelings beautifully. You can give them a diary and ask them to write down their feelings or their daily activities. Writing also makes people feel confident to have verbal communication with new people. Also, writing is a good habit, so this routine should be a part of your child’s life.

Create A Comforting Environment For Your Child To Communicate

We as an adult have learned how to communicate in any environment but for children, there has to be the right set up. Chaotic surroundings are a big no. If they have a place where they feel comfortable, take them there as it will help them to open up about what they are feeling and going through. This will also help them to focus on what you are trying to tell them. You need to help your child understand they are being heard and this can only happen if you show it to them. Later, you can expose them to talk in public places, but for starters, take baby steps.

Try these strategies with your child and you might get amazing results. Though it may take a little time for children to open up and learn how to communicate, you have to make your way. Children are like clay, they will retain the shape they are given and so it is extremely important that proper care and methods should be implemented to get great results. This will help the child in the long run too.