Practice active listening together
4–5 yearsFamily ConnectionNo materials needed
Teach active listening by showing what it looks like. When your child speaks, put down your phone and turn to face them. Make eye contact and nod to show you are following along. Then encourage your child to do the same when you speak. Practicing these concrete behaviors helps your child understand what good listening involves.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Teach active listening by showing what it looks like. When your child speaks, put down your phone and turn to face them. Make eye contact and nod to show you are following along. Then encourage your child to do the same when you speak. Practicing these concrete behaviors helps your child understand what good listening involves.
Why It Works
Active listening is a core component of effective communication that strongly correlates with enduring parent-child relationships (Hartos & Power, 2000). Appropriate response and empathy, which grow from active listening, are key factors in communication quality (Zhang & Li, 2024). When children learn to listen attentively in childhood, they develop social competencies that support success in school and relationships (Widiastuti & Purwandari, 2019).
Tips for Parents
Model the behavior you want to see consistently.
Gently remind your child to look at you when you speak.
Praise specific listening behaviors you notice.
Materials Needed
None
Learning Methods
Cooperative LearningStructured Academic LearningProject-Based and Thematic Learning
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