Although regarded as a passive process, listening is a critical life skill that is why there is a need to enhance this phase to to equip the children with necessary tools to be better learners. If a child fails to listen and to process information, definitely communication is weakened.

            Improving listening skills is helping the attention span and ability to concentrate.  Heather Strickland, an eHow contributor suggested a variety of ways to improve listening skills during all stages of developement.

1. 1.Test your child’s hearing. If you think your child is not responding, discuss with this with your child’s pediatrician. If your child’s hearing is impaired, the sooner you know, the sooner you can alter your approach to teaching him to listen.
2. 2.Read to your young child to improve his listening skills. Children enjoy listening stories.
3. 3.Engage your child in conversation to improve his listening skills. Children are not born knowing how to converse. It is a skill they must learn.
4. 4.Teach active listening to improve listening skills in your child. Active listening skills include making eye contact, using nonverbal communication such as nodding, and repeating points back to the speaker for clarification.
5. 5.Turn off the television and video games to improve listening skills in your child. There’s nothing wrong with a little TV and video games, but add concentration activities, such as reading, playing cards games, putting apuzzle together or working on a crossword.Better concentration will lead to better listening.

Surely, these ways will improve children’s listening skills. Aside from reading and writing, this part should be given attention to develop well-rounded individuals.

By: Estelita S. Maglaqui | Teacher III | Daang Bago Elem. School | Dinalupihan, Bataan