12 LISTENING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

As parents, we understand the importance of good communication skills in children. Strong listening skills are the first step in effective communication. In this post, I’m going to talk about some fun and interactive listening activities for kids.

Engaging in these activities will also contribute to the development of essential skills during early childhood. Let’s jump in.

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Listening Activities For Kids

Musical Freeze

Play some upbeat music and encourage your child to dance or move around. When the music suddenly stops, everyone freezes in their position.

This activity helps children develop auditory perception and the ability to respond to sound cues.

Story Time

Select books that are suitable for your child’s age and read to them on a regular basis.
Use expressive and animated voices to make the story engaging.
For example, you can imitate animal sounds or use props to create sound effects for different elements of the story.

Ask questions about the story to encourage active listening and comprehension. Pick sensory imagery books to simulate their senses. For example, books that describe the smell of freshly baked cookies, the sound of raindrops on a window, or the feel of sand between their toes can help your child imagine and experience the story on a deeper level.

This activity helps with listening, comprehension and imagination.

Sound Hunt

Take your child on a sound scavenger hunt around your home or outdoors. Encourage them to listen carefully and identify various sounds such as birds chirping, water running, or an alarm clock ringing.

This activity sharpens auditory discrimination skills and attention to detail.

Simon Says

Play the classic game of “Simon Says” to promote active listening. Give your child instructions like “Simon says touch your nose,” and they should only follow the command if it starts with “Simon says.”

This game helps improve listening skills and the ability to follow directions.

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYES

Another simple game to play with your kids.

Instead of relying solely on visual cues, encourage them to listen carefully to your clues and find the hidden object. This game not only sharpens their listening skills but also enhances their observation abilities.

Guess the Sound

Gather a variety of common objects that make unique sounds, such as a bell, a zipper, or a shaker. Blindfold your child and let them listen to each sound, then guess what object made the sound.

This is really good for enhancing auditory memory and sound recognition skills.

Whispering Game

Play the whispering game where you whisper a message to your child, and they repeat it back to you.
Gradually increase the distance between you and your child to make it more challenging.
This can also be played as a group activity : Chinese whispering

Nature Walk

Spend time outdoors and listen to the sounds of nature. Discuss what your child hears.
Identify different bird calls, rustling leaves, or other natural sounds. Learn more about how we can provide sensory experiences for children.

Treasure Hunt

Give simple, clear instructions and ask your child to follow them.
This includes activities like cleaning up toys, arranging objects in a certain order or finding something.

Instead of a map, you are using verbal instructions to find something or do something.

Copy Cat Game

This can go wild! Say a sentence or a series of words, and have your child repeat them back to you.
Gradually increase the complexity of the phrases.

Music and Rhyme Time

You can let them listen to instrumental versions of nursery rhymes and ask them to guess the song.

The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes introduces children to patterns and sequences. Recognising these patterns enhances cognitive skills and prepares them for more complex learning tasks.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

Introducing age-appropriate podcasts and audiobooks for kids.
Talk about the content you listened to.

Find talking books in your local library. You can also find audio books online. Audio book sample

Incorporating Technology into Listening Activities

Interactive websites and online resources can provide audio-based learning experiences. Here are some platforms that offer engaging content for little ones.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame

This application helps kids handle difficult situations by prompting them to consider their feelings and make choices.

It includes listening to characters and selecting the most suitable solutions to problems.

Storynory

Storynory is an online collection of free audio stories for children. It features a wide range of fairy tales and original stories.

What Are The Benefits of Listening Activities For Kids

Listening activities offer many benefits for kids. Certainly far beyond the simple act of hearing.

Language DEVELOPMENT

By introducing children to various words, sentence patterns, and ways of communicating, their language skills develop rapidly.

Boost attention span

Children learn to focus on and recall information presented to them by doing listening activities. It helps improve the attention span.

COgnitive Skills Development

By actively listening to stories, podcasts, or educational content, kids are exposed to different perspectives, ideas, and information.

This helps them analyse and evaluate what they hear, improving their ability to think critically and make informed judgements.

HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

By making listening an interactive and enjoyable part of their routine, you can contribute to child’s holistic development.

Tips for Maximising the Effectiveness of Listening Activities

REFLECTIVE LISTENING

Model good listening behaviour by actively listening to your child when they talk. Repeat back what they say to show that you understand and value their communication. This is a very important step to boost their confidence.

Try to maintain eye contact, nod and respond appropriately when your child speaks.

Active Participation

Engage your child in conversations by asking open-ended questions and actively listening to their responses.

Tailoring Activities To the Child’s INterests

Adding effective listening activities to a child’s routine can significantly contribute to their cognitive and language development. To make the most of it, keep a few tips in mind.

Make listening fun by incorporating games and interactive elements. Whether it’s a scavenger hunt or a storytime with animated characters, engaging activities capture a child’s attention.
Be consistent in integrating listening exercises into daily life, such as during storytime, walks, or playtime.
Model good listening behaviour when your child speaks. Children learn by example, and seeing attentive listening in action encourages them to do the same.
Choose age-appropriate materials and activities that match your child’s developmental stage, ensuring the challenges are stimulating but not overwhelming.

Conclusion

By providing opportunities for kids to listen to various sounds, music, stories, and conversations, we can enhance their language skills, cognitive abilities, and social interactions.

These activities not only stimulate their auditory senses but also foster their imagination, attention span, and critical thinking. Therefore, incorporating listening activities into a child’s daily routine can greatly contribute to their holistic growth and development.