How do we develop children’s listening skills?

Interest is the best teacher and an intrinsic driver of learning for young children. Using interest as an entry point can help children become fully engaged in play activities and experience the pleasure that comes from listening carefully. 

Knowing how to spot learning opportunities and being responsive to children’s interests and desires are key elements of a good educator. In the "My Self-Portrait" activity, the teacher found that the children were very interested in their body parts, so she incorporated a listening game into the process of learning about body parts: the teacher named a body part and asked the children to put their hands on the corresponding part, together with music and drums, the children listened very carefully!

This is a very simple game. However, it creates opportunities for practising listening skills, distinguishing sounds, comprehending ideas as well as shifting attentions. Furthermore, it is also a journey for children to experience different strategies to maintain their attention to ensure that they can spot the relevant information effectively to help them meet the challenge.

Let's look at some of the fantastic learning experiences children in EY3&4 had last week!

 

And of course, after we have listened, we should encourage our children to listen to each other’s ideas. Through the process of listening to each other, children will gradually experience the great power of listening and will naturally think of using conversation to solve disagreements in the Nursery when they encounter interaction problems.

In the daily learning life of the Nursery, the teacher will ask the children to listen carefully to the requirements and to think independently or in small groups and work on some problems they need to solve. They will give smiles and individualized encouragement to children who listen carefully. As discussions and even arguments occur between the children, guide them to constantly remind themselves, "I should have listened to what was said”, "I'll think about it a bit more, maybe I'll come up with something different." etc. This regulates children's emotions and encourages them to make correct judgements and to think deeply.

Of course, Nursery education alone is not enough; the family, as the first place of socialisation for children, has an important influence on the development of listening habits. Parents and children are strongly encouraged to do parent-child reading together. Parent-child reading is an activity that combines the development of listening habits with the development of listening skills. In explaining the story, the children not only get a deeper and more vivid understanding of the content of the story, but they also develop the habit of listening patiently and quietly to what others are saying. This, coupled with timely questioning, can go a long way in helping children to improve their listening concentration and comprehension.

A careful listening session will bring each other into the heart and build a deeper and closer relationship. Listening patiently is a respectful and warm way of communicating with each other. Knowing how to listen, being willing to listen and being a good listener is an essential skill in interpersonal communication as well as the fundation of cooperation. We hope that through the learning at Huili Nursery Nantong, we can help more children to actively stimulate their interest in listening, improve their listening skills and listening quality, develop good listening habits and become a qualified little "listener".

Day Pass Experience 

Huili Nursery Nantong has started the autumn intake for the 2023-24 academic year. Families who are interested in registering for September 2023 (EY2/EY3/EY4) are welcome to scan the QR code below to make an appointment to visit the school.

Families of school age are welcome to register for our Day Pass Experience at Huili Nursery Nantong.

• Parents will have the opportunity to meet with the Chinese and Western Co-head of Early Years, gain an in-depth understanding of our nursery’s educational philosophy and get an interactive experience of our unique facilities and environment.

   

• Children will have the opportunity to join a classroom of their own age and be immersed in our bilingual classes with Huili pupils for an in-depth exploration of the joys of bilingual learning.