Question
How can adults model active listening for young children?
Answer
Get on the child's level - sit or kneel so you are face-to-face versus standing over them. Maintain comfortable eye contact to show you are focused on them. Give relevant nonverbal gestures like nodding to encourage them to continue.
Respond to demonstrate you are listening - praise, ask a question, or make a comment to spur them to elaborate. Relevant responses reinforce that you are engaged. Ask open-ended questions for them to fill in details, not a rapid-fire interrogation.
Paraphrase by repeating part of what they said. This helps clarify meaning, correct misconceptions, and gain understanding. Simply repeating their words does not demonstrate active listening.
Practice patience - resist finishing their sentences or rushing them along. Wait for them to find the right words and express themselves fully. Though time is limited, patience models good communication and builds confidence.
By getting on their level, giving nonverbal and verbal responses, paraphrasing, asking questions, and waiting patiently, we demonstrate attentive listening skills for children to build on themselves.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Promoting Listening Skills in Young Children, presented by Amber Tankersley, PhD.
