Listen

Maintaining a child’s focus is difficult, especially if distracted by something else. Screens, anyone?

If your child has a full working range of senses, feel blessed. Navigating a complicated life without one or more is challenging. Let’s focus on our ears. They get us out of trouble if our backs are turned and we can’t see a threat.

Your spoken warning about one child teasing a sibling is helpful when the action occurs in another room. Children hear many things during their day; active listening is another skill.

Is there a foolproof method to enhance it? Well, no. If there were, someone would have made a fortune promoting it.

You can lift a child’s listening level by engaging them in conversation. Oops, shoulder shrug–been there and tried that.

Asking open-ended questions like ‘How was school today?’ can lead to detailed responses, unlocking a treasure trove of information. If your child gives you a detailed spoken report, consider it a win. Maintain the conversation. (And it’s never too late to begin.)

My wife and I travelled through North America several years ago. Salespeople in the USA ask open-ended questions when you’re browsing in their store. Their questions are designed to either lead you or them to a mutually satisfying purchase.

Conversely, salespeople in my corner of the world tend to ask closed questions, like, ‘May I help you?’ Our initial response is, ‘No, thank you.’ Conversation over.