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Child Development Topics..

 
You are here : home > Child Development > Speech, Language, Hearing and Vision > Listening and Speaking Skills in Kids

Listening and Speaking Skills in Kids

Listening and Speaking Skills in Kids

Listening and speaking skills in kids help them to listen and express their feelings and thoughts. Find out how you can help in getting the child to talk and express her feelings.
Researchers are of the opinion that kids require ample listening and talking opportunities in order to effectively develop language skills. These two activities in turn help the kid to develop and improve their reading and writing skills as well.

Every time you talk to a child, you will notice that placing open ended questions and holding an engaging conversation always helps the kid to open up, express his feelings through words and sentences. This activity is a great aid in developing and polishing the language skill in the child. He simultaneously learns the importance of listening to a conversation, a discussion and speaking at the right time, or answering questions, when they are put before them. So, the focus actually lies in providing the correct environment for the child.

Development of Listing and Speaking Skills

The success in developing the ability to read and write is thus depends a lot on how well they are able to see and hear their parents, peers, teachers and others in their immediate environment interact. Help to ensure that the child gets opportunities like:

  • They should be able to hear you speak for various reasons, that is, as a part of daily activity.
  • They are able to listen in order to attain information on something or even for simple enjoyment.
  • The instructions or directive must be given to them through speech.
  • It also helps the kid to learn listen and speak when you ask them questions and also answer their queries.
  • Ask the kid open ended questions, so that the child is inclined to answer them. Encourage them to elaborate and expand on the one-liners.
  • Play different fun games in order to introduce the kid to new words and help in enhancing their vocabulary.
  • Engage the child in conversations on various topics throughout the day.

Other Tips for Parents

Here are some more tips through which parents can aid the development of listening and speaking skills in kids.

Speak Clearly and Slowly

At times, you might find the child unable to understand if you are talking in your normal speedy flow. So, slow down and be clear with words and pronunciations when you speak to them. This will help them understand words in a better way. You intonation should also be clear.

Engage Child in Discussions

Build up an environment for discussion. As mentioned earlier, discussions help the kid to listen to other people speak and also participate in it. So take turns in speaking while you are holding discussions on a certain topic.

Teach Usage of Different Words

Help the kid understand that language is a means of communication, and he is required to use words in order to express his feelings and thoughts. Encourage the kid to speak up and do not make fun or be critical straight away on the way that he tries to express himself.

Basically, you have to make efforts on getting the child to talk. Apart from the regular opportunities mentioned above, say another activity like reading out a bedtime story to the kid and asking the child about what he thinks about a certain character in the story, or encourage him to predict on what he thinks will happen next, or maybe try making references in order to build connections between what he is listening and things happening in real life. This activity will help him in building his associative skills as well. He will also develop the quality of being attentive, when he is being spoken to; thus becoming a good and appreciative listener.




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Mahua
Mahua.12 years ago
Speaking and listening are the skills developed over a period of time. Parents should speak to the child as it improves speaking and listening skills. Encouraging speaking skills by way of games is a good idea.
 
 
 
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Sudhir Dhaval
Sudhir Dhaval.12 years ago
A newborn baby does not talk but he listens to sounds around him. When he is about 6 months old, he starts babbling which is a form of expression. The actual learning period starts after 9 months. He is able to understand, comprehend and even try to give response in his own way.
 
 
 
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Ruma Guha
Ruma Guha.12 years ago
Learning to talk starts from the birth. a new born listens to all the sounds around him and gradually he has a large vocabulary which he uses for expression when he begins talking at the age of about 2 years.
 
 
 
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