How to improve your child's listening skills

10 ways to build listening skills

1. Get eye contact before giving instructions.
2. Give one or two instructions at a time, not five.
3. Ask your child to repeat the instruction back.
4. Read stories aloud and ask questions afterwards.
5. Listen fully when your child talks, so they learn what listening looks like.
6. Turn off the TV during conversations.
7. Use audiobooks and podcasts for children in the car.
8. Play music and talk about the instruments or the story in the song.
9. Praise good listening: "You remembered all three things!"
10. Make instructions fun with silly voices or rhymes.

6 fun listening games

1. Simon says: follow only the instructions that start with "Simon says".
2. Sound walk: walk quietly and list every sound you hear.
3. Chinese whispers: pass a sentence around and see how it changes.
4. Story stop: read a story and stop; your child says what happened last.
5. Clap the word: clap every time you hear a chosen word in a story.
6. Follow the map: give directions to find a hidden treat.

How can I improve my child's listening skills?

Get eye contact first, give short instructions, ask your child to repeat them, read aloud together and play listening games.

Why doesn't my child listen to me?

Often they're absorbed in something else, instructions are too long, or the TV is on. Getting attention first makes a big difference.

What are good listening games for kids?

Simon says, sound walks, Chinese whispers, story stop, clap the word and follow the map are fun and easy.