Active Listening is an essential skill for PreK students to develop strong communication and interpersonal abilities. By teaching young learners how to be active listeners, we can help them build strong relationships and foster a positive learning environment. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the concept of Active Listening, a no-prep activity to practice the skill, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to enhance your students’ learning experience.

Introduction

Active Listening is the practice of using our eyes, face, and body to show that we are interested and paying attention to others. It involves looking at the speaker, facing our body towards them, nodding our heads, having an interested facial expression, and keeping our hands and feet quiet. Active Listening also requires focusing on the speaker’s words and making connected comments or asking questions to show we are listening. This skill is crucial for young learners, as it demonstrates that we care about others and helps us know what to say or do in the moment.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a simple, no-prep activity to help your PreK students practice Active Listening:

The Listening Game: Have your students sit in a circle, and choose one student to be the speaker. The speaker will share something about their day, a favorite toy, or any other topic of their choice. The rest of the students will practice Active Listening by facing the speaker, making eye contact, nodding their heads, and keeping their hands and feet quiet. After the speaker finishes, ask the listeners to share one thing they remember from the speaker’s story, demonstrating that they were actively listening. Rotate the role of the speaker until all students have had a chance to practice both speaking and listening.

Discussion Questions

• Why is Active Listening important in our everyday interactions with others?
• How can we show others that we are actively listening to them?
• What are some challenges you might face when trying to practice Active Listening, and how can you overcome them?
• How does it feel when someone is actively listening to you? How does it feel when someone is not actively listening to you?
• Can you think of a time when Active Listening helped you better understand someone or a situation?

Related Skills

Besides Active Listening, there are other related skills that can help PreK students develop strong communication and interpersonal abilities. Some of these skills include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Self-Awareness: Recognizing and understanding our own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Nonverbal Communication: Expressing ourselves through body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
• Conflict Resolution: Resolving disagreements in a healthy and constructive way.

Next Steps

Active Listening is a valuable skill that can significantly impact your PreK students’ social-emotional development. To further enhance their learning experience, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of Active Listening and other related skills at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and strategies to support your students’ growth and success.