Wednesday, February 14, 2018

                              Listening and Attention

       Listening and attention continue to be one of the largest complaints that parents and teachers have about their children.   These skills do not usually just naturally develop but require some lessons and practice and early on.   For some children listening can be something that they are choosing not to do, but for others it's something they simply do not know how to do or the importance.  Too much instant gratification with today's technology, being able to switch instantly when bored, being allowed to not focus on directions are all contributors.  Let's start teaching children the importance of listening.  The following link is from Parent's Magazine and provides a list of books for children that help teach listening.  We should all be reading to our young children any way so why not read these cute stories with positive lessons:  https://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/books/best-books-to-teach-listening/ .  Follow up these stories with incentives or praise when you catch your child performing one of the positive behaviors portrayed in the story.


    Help your child engage in other activities as well that support listening and attention.  Play games like Simon Says, Red Light Green Light or Follow the Leader.   Word games such ask "The Picnic Game"  are very helpful.  One person starts by saying "yesterday I went on a picnic and I brought a  ________" .  They fill in the blank with something that begins with an 'A'.  The next person says the same phrase, repeats what the first person says and then adds to it by providing a word that begins with a 'B' and so on.  This can be adapted by not using the letters, but asking them to always choose something from a specific category.  "Twenty Questions" is another great game.  If they ask a repeat question that someone else asked count it as one of their questions.  Older children can be asked to attend to something non preferred and report back.  Ask kids to stay on one show or task for at last 15 minutes before they change.

    Attached is one more article to help develop good concentration skills in children.  Remember that at times changing the way things are done at home can initially seem like work, but they will hopefully eventually help to make things easier for you but most especially your child.
https://flintobox.com/blog/child-development/13-tips-increase-concentration-kids

No comments:

Post a Comment