Have you ever become so frustrated because it seems like what you are telling a preschooler goes in one ear and out the other? In order for your child to be a good listener, you have to be a good listener.

Many times adults seem to busy to actually listen to what a child is telling you. It may not seem important to you and you are tempted to brush him off because you have another task at hand. You have to set a good example of listening for a child to you. Let your child know that you are interested in what he is saying through body language. Sit or stand relaxed. Be mindful of your facial expression. Look interested. If you have a scowl on your face, he is going to feel you are getting mad at him and may stop talking. Repeat something he has said to you to show him you are actively listening to him. “You saw a butterfly out the window.” “You used the blocks to make a cave.”

Also asking questions will show you are listening. “What color was the butterfly?” “Did you use a lot of blocks?” One extremely important thing to remember is to not finish your child’s sentences for him or interrupt often. Studies have shown this can cause a child to develop a stuttering problem. For more information about stuttering prevention, click here. Encourage your child to communicate with you all the time. Answer their questions in a vocabulary they will understand. Make sure you have his attention before speaking to him. Turn off TV’s, radios, take the child to another room, and get down to his level so you can see eye to eye with her. Ask her to try to repeat to you what you have just said. If she doesn’t repeat exactly but you can tell she understands what you are trying to communicate, move on. If not, repeat one more time to her.

Making yourself more accessible to your child when you are together will teach them to trust you, develop their listening skills, and pave a way to better communication on their part. If you still have concerns about your child’s listening abilities, attention span, or speech development, make sure to address these concerns to your pediatrician as soon as possible.