Speaking and Listening

When children have many opportunities to talk as well as to listen to adults and peers, children gain language skills that are important for their success in reading and writing.

The following are suggestions and examples of ways to support speaking and listening skills:

• Be an attentive and respectful listener to the child.
• Respond to the child’s questions in a patient and respectful manner.
• Ask questions that show you are interested in the child’s thoughts and ideas.
  “ What do you think we should do next?” “Would you like to tell me about what you built?” “What is the best thing that you did today?”
• Ask questions that require more than just a “yes” or “no” response. “What do you think will happen if we put water in this bowl of flour?” What do you think we will find on our walk to the library?”
• When a child pronounces a word incorrectly, do not correct the child and expect them to repeat the words after you. Simply use the word correctly again in a response to the child.
  Child: “I want that lellow crayon.”
  Parent: Here is the yellow crayon. I like the color yellow.
• Do the same for grammatical errors.
  Child: “Me want dat cookie.”
  Parent: “OK. I want that cookie, too. Maybe we can share it.”
• Engage children in conversations throughout the day.
• Play listening games.
  • “Close your eyes and sit very quietly and listen. What do you hear?
    Can you hear the airplane? Can you hear the children playing outside? What
    else do you hear? ” Make a list with the children of all the sounds they heard.
  • Have a mystery listening bag. Put something that makes a sound inside of it. Have
    the children guess what it is. Have a child take the bag home and bring back a
    “mystery sound.” The child with the item might give clues before the children can guess
• Gently reinforce the good listening and speaking practice throughout the day.
  • “It is Tyrone’s turn to talk now. Your turn will be next.”
  • "It was very nice of you to thank Jenna for helping you clean the table.”
  • “You used your words to tell Jo how you felt about him taking that car away from you. I think he understood how you felt because he said he was sorry and gave it back to you.”
• Use daily routines as a good time to have children practice following and giving simple directions.
  • “Please take this book over to Mr. Smith so that he can read it to his group.”
  • “Maria, will you please call names of those sitting quietly to go wash their hands?”