In today’s fast-paced, screen-heavy world, it’s more important than ever to support children in developing strong listening skills—a key part of healthy child development. Listening helps children understand language, communicate effectively, and succeed in school. While hearing is a passive ability, listening is an active process that helps young minds make sense of sounds and words around them.
From as early as age two, children begin to form mental images of what they hear. By age three, they start understanding simple stories, and by five or six, they can follow multi-step instructions. These skills are the foundation for future learning, including reading comprehension.
Challenges with listening comprehension can impact a child’s ability to focus, understand others, and follow directions. It may even lead to frustration for both children and parents. Factors such as attention difficulties, working memory issues, or auditory processing disorders can contribute—and support from a speech and language pathologist can help.
Between birth and approximately three years old, children's listening skills develop fast. They understand more words and can follow simple instructions. By age three children understand two-part instructions, by age four they comprehend longer more complex sentences and by age five or six, they can usually follow multi-step directives.
Unique toys for toddlers that encourage storytelling, role play, and sound exploration can help strengthening listening, language, and attention skills in a fun, engaging way. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, offering children sensory-rich, screen-free play experiences supports development and builds confidence and imagination.
10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Preschooler’s Listening Skills
Here are 10 playful, practical tips to help enhance your child’s ability to listen, focus, and understand:
1. Model good listening.
Show your child what active listening looks like. Get down to their level, make eye contact, speak clearly, and give them your full attention when they speak.
2. Build their vocabulary.
The more words children know, the easier it is to follow conversations. Encourage curiosity—welcome their 'Why' questions and explain new words with patience.
3. Play sound games.
Try a sound guessing game—have your child close their eyes and identify familiar household sounds. Or go on a 'listening walk' in nature and notice the sounds around you. These activities boost auditory memory and focus.
4. Read and talk about stories.
Reading together strengthens listening and comprehension. Talk about characters, plot, and setting—adjusting story length and complexity to match your child’s age.
5. Give multi-step directions.
Challenge your child to follow two to three step instructions, such as 'Get your shoes and grab your bag and zip your jacket'. This supports memory and sequencing.
6. Practice recall in daily tasks.
At the grocery store, ask your child to remember two items and find those. Start small and increase the number over time.
7. Reduce background noise.
Distractions can make it hard for children to listen. Keep the environment calm, and if needed, ask for a seat near the teacher at school to help minimise disruptions.
8. Try word-clapping games.
Pick a word in a story and have your child clap whenever they hear it. It’s a simple, fun way to improve attention and auditory focus.
9. Make stories interactive.
If longer stories are too tricky, choose picture books that encourage your child to engage with the story through pointing or predicting what happens next.
10. Sing, rhyme, and play.
Songs, clapping games, and rhymes help develop auditory sequencing and listening comprehension. Audio stories are also a great screen-free tool, especially during car rides.
By Angela Mischkulnig
Image by Freepik