How to Help Children Become Better Listeners
How to Help Children Become Better Listeners
Teaching your children to learn to listen and talk well, which is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives.
In this newsletter, we provide you with notes on Why Won't My Kids Listen to Anything I Say, an episode of Thrive Like A Parent with Dr. Brooke Weinstein.
Brooke Weinstein is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and a coach for busy moms. Her mission is to help mamas fall in love with their lives again.
Read our notes below.
Topics Covered in this Summary
Why Children Don’t Listen
How to Help Children Become Better Listeners
Why Children Don't Listen
Getting a reluctant child to listen can be overwhelming at times for parents. While it may feel like disrespect, it's probably about something much more basic.
Sometimes it's hard for kids to listen to parents if the messages are too long or if they sound too critical or angry. It can also be hard if your messages are difficult to understand or inconsistent.
Ineffective listening is usually about your child's social development. Some toddlers may misbehave to test how parents react. Still, it's unsettling to feel like playtime, TV, or video games are more important than what you have to say.
How to Help Children Become Better Listeners
When it comes to teaching children to be good listeners, it is critical to be patient and consistent in your approach. Learning this skill takes time, especially for young children.
To help your child become a better listener, here are some strategies you can try:
When parents bring forward a topic, they want to be heard immediately. However, make sure the child is ready to listen. Right in the middle of a tantrum or while playing games might not be as effective as a little bit later.
When kids are distracted, ask them to repeat what was said so you know they heard.
Telling it back to you helps younger children remember. Don't scold them if they struggle and just repeat what was said.
Positively reinforce eye contact when giving instructions.
When instructing your child to do something, using a single word is a good way to keep your requests brief.
When your child listens well, think of creative ways to tell them how good they are. You could give your child praise or small rewards to encourage them to keep doing it.
When kids are throwing tantrums, stay calm and wait for the storm to pass before talking to them.
One of the hardest things for parents to deal with is how their family talks to each other. It takes time, patience, and consistency to teach a child to listen well. But if you make an effort, your kids will learn to listen and talk well, which is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives.
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