Parents can help their children develop strong listening skills which are important for academic success. Some ways parents can help are by giving their full attention when children speak, encouraging children to talk about their day, listening patiently without interruptions, and being aware of nonverbal cues. Activities like using a homemade phone or going on a sound walk outside can make listening fun for children. Developing good listening skills is important as it is highly predictive of achievement in school.

1. Parents,
You can help your child develop the listening and comprehension abilities they
need to succeed. As children experience the joy of someone else’s undivided
attention, they learn to value listening and acquire the disposition to listen
thoughtfully to others (Dougherty & Paul, 2007; Smith, 2008).-Mary Jalongo
 Be interested and attentive: Reply and maintain eye contact
 Encourage talking: “Tell me about your day at school”…
 Listen patiently: Listen as though you have plenty of time
 Hear children out: Avoid cutting them off.
 Listen to nonverbal messages: Voice, tone & facial expressions 
Activities you can do…
1.) Make a simple DIY telephone and then turn it into a listening game!
2.) Go on a sound hunt outside and think about all the different noises you
hear along the way!
3.) Make your own sound cylinders to help you kids understand the
intensity
4.)
5.) 4.
6.) of sound!
Retrieved from: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/52641/listening-skills
 Be sure to: model good listening! Use information literacy
and online resources! Studies show technology is something
most children enjoy. Use Early Literacy sites to help you! Try:
StoryDog www.storydog.com,
LISTENING
COMPREHENSION IS
HIGHLY PREDICTIVE OF
OVERALL ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT
DON’T BE SHY, TELL
THEM WHY IT’S
IMPORTANT!
YOU CAN BE A
GREAT LISTENER!
LISTEN BETTER &
LEARN MORE!
BE ATTENTIVE,
Read-alouds help literacy
and can “put the child in
charge” by turning pages,
assisting with discussions
before and after the book.
Look for ‘audible extras’
companion websites

2. Hearing Challenges
 According to Mary Jalongo, Otitis media (OME)—a middle ear infection and resulting accumulation of
fluid in the ear—is the most common cause of hearing loss and hearing problems in young children
(Cole & Flexer, 2007). By 3 years of age, 1/3rd of children have had 3 or more episodes of OME and 85%
of school age children have had at least one (Winskel, 2006).
 Common difficulties. Flexer (1997) estimates that, on any given day, about 1/3 of first graders are not
hearing normally due to allergies, background nose, tinnitus (caused by medications), ear infections,
and so forth.
Retrieved from: http://www.listen.org/Resources/Documents/jalongo.pdf
Does your child:
1.) Turn up the volume of the TV excessively high?
2.) Respond inappropriately to questions?
3.) Not reply when you call him/her?
4.) Watch others imitate what they are doing?
5.) Have articulation problems or
speech/language delays?
6.) Have problems academically?
7.) Complain of earaches, ear pain or head noises?
8.) Have difficulty understanding what people are
saying?
9.) Seem to speak differently from other children
his or her age?
While these signs don't necessarily mean that
your child has a hearing problem, they could be
indicators of one. If you answered “yes" to any of
the following questions, or if you suspect your
child may have difficulty hearing. Contact your
Dr. to schedule time with an audiologist.
http://www.pamf.org/hearinghealth/facts/children.html
The most
critical time for
language
development
is from birth to
4 yr of age.
Watch, listen &
you can help
young learners
grow and
learn! Early
Intervention is
the most
effective
treatment.