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Active listening is a key skill that helps kids focus, understand instructions, and build meaningful relationships. Developing this ability can make a big difference in their academic performance, social interactions, and emotional intelligence.
The good news is that helping your kids build their active listening abilities doesn’t have to be boring. Below, we’ve put together a list of over 20 fun and engaging activities to help kids become better listeners while having a blast.
Simon Says encourages kids to listen carefully and follow commands. One person plays “Simon” and gives instructions like, “Simon says touch your toes.” Kids should only follow commands if they are preceded by “Simon says.” If “Simon” gives a command without saying “Simon says,” kids should stay still.
Simon Says is perfect for teaching kids to pay close attention to details before acting.
The Telephone Game is a fun way to teach kids the importance of listening and repeating accurately. Start with one child whispering a sentence into the ear of the next child, who then whispers it to the next, and so on.
When the message reaches the last child, they say it out loud. It’s always amusing to see how much the message changes, highlighting the need for precise listening.
Read a short story to kids, then ask questions about what happened in the story. This activity can be as simple as “What color was the dog?” or “Where did the boy go?” This activity helps children practice remembering details and paying attention while listening, making it a valuable tool for improving comprehension.
This well-known game requires kids to listen closely for when the music stops so they can grab a chair. Remove one chair each round, and kids who don’t find a seat are out. It’s a great way to teach kids to pay attention to sound cues. Plus, it’s high-energy and lots of fun.
Take kids on a Sound Scavenger Hunt. Make a list of sounds for them to find, such as a bird chirping, a car horn, or footsteps. As they listen for each sound, they can check it off their list. This game is great for getting kids to tune into their surroundings and learn to differentiate between various sounds.
In this activity, kids work in pairs. One child talks about a topic for a minute while the other listens. Then, the listener has to summarize what was said. This activity helps kids practice understanding and restating what they hear, building empathy and ensuring they truly grasp the message being communicated.
Have one child describe a simple drawing (like a house or a smiley face) to another child, who must draw it based on the instructions. The child giving directions cannot look at the drawing, and the drawer cannot ask questions.
This exercise helps kids focus on listening accurately and gives them practice with clear communication.
A Listening Walk is a great way to practice mindfulness while developing listening skills. Take kids on a walk outside, asking them to focus on the sounds around them, such as rustling leaves, distant conversations, or a barking dog.
After the walk, have them share the different sounds they heard. It’s a peaceful activity that helps them slow down and appreciate their environment.
In Listen and Move, give kids commands to perform certain actions when they hear specific words. For example, say, “Jump when you hear the word ‘dog’” or “Spin when you hear ‘cat.’” It’s a fun game that teaches kids to stay alert and respond quickly to verbal cues.
Gather kids in a circle and start a story with a single sentence, like “Once upon a time, there was a talking cat.” Each child adds a new line to the story, building on what the previous child said. This activity encourages kids to listen closely to ensure the story flows smoothly and makes sense, fostering creativity and teamwork.
Play different sounds for the kids to guess, like a ringing bell, a dog barking, or footsteps. Kids can close their eyes to focus more on their sense of hearing. This game helps children improve their auditory discrimination skills, making them more aware of subtle sound differences.
In the Whisper Challenge, one child whispers a word or phrase, and the other tries to repeat it back. They can also try to lip-read while wearing noise-canceling headphones. This game teaches kids the value of focusing intently, and it’s often filled with laughter when words get hilariously mixed up.
Role-playing different social scenarios can be a great way for kids to practice listening. For example, act out a scene where one child plays a customer at a restaurant, and the other is the server.
The “customer” makes an order, and the “server” has to remember it correctly. This teaches kids to pay attention to details during conversations.
Role-playing can take place in person or in the virtual world of a video game like Minecraft or Animal Crossing. At Hero Journey Club, we use games like these as the homes for our therapist-led groups for kids and teens.
Clap or play a simple rhythm on a drum, and have kids repeat it back to you. Start with easy patterns and gradually increase the complexity as kids get better. This activity is excellent for developing kids’ ability to focus and follow patterns, which are key components of active listening.
Kids love to dance, making Freeze Dance a perfect way to blend fun and listening practice. Play music and let them dance around, but when the music stops, they have to freeze in place. This game encourages kids to listen closely for auditory cues while exercising self-control.
Instead of reading a story aloud, play an audio story or podcast designed for kids. After listening, ask questions about the story to check comprehension.
For example, “What did the main character do when they found the treasure?” This activity helps kids focus on listening without visual cues, enhancing their ability to absorb information purely through audio.
In Follow the Leader, one child leads a series of actions, like clapping hands, jumping, or spinning, while the others follow along.
After a few rounds, switch the leader. The game can be made more challenging by adding commands that the kids must listen for, like “Follow only when you hear ‘ready, set, go.’” This encourages kids to concentrate on the leader’s instructions.
In this activity, read a sentence or short passage aloud and have kids repeat it back to you word for word. Start with simple sentences and gradually increase the length as they improve. This exercise focuses on retaining information and recalling it accurately, making it great for memory and listening practice.
Pair up kids and have one act out gestures or facial expressions while the other mirrors their actions. Add a twist by having the leader describe their actions verbally before doing them, such as “I am making a sad face” or “I am pretending to drive a car.” This helps kids practice listening while simultaneously observing.
Play the sound of an animal, such as a lion’s roar or a bird’s chirp, and have kids guess which animal it is. For older kids, add a challenge by playing recordings of more obscure animals. This activity helps them hone their ability to distinguish between different sounds and focus on the subtle differences in audio cues.
In the Memory Chain Game, start by saying a word, and each child adds a new word to create a chain. For example, if you start with “apple,” the next child might say “apple, car,” the next “apple, car, tree,” and so on. Each child must listen carefully to remember the entire sequence. It’s a great way to build both memory and active listening skills.
Provide kids with a simple drawing prompt, but don’t show them the image. Instead, describe it to them in detail, such as “Draw a large circle in the center of the page. Now, draw a small triangle inside the circle.” After they finish drawing, compare their pictures to the original. This activity teaches kids to listen carefully to instructions and translate those into actions.
Have kids sit quietly in a space (indoor or outdoor) with a piece of paper and a pencil. As they listen to their environment, they should draw or write down what they hear, placing each sound on their “sound map” according to where they think it’s coming from. This activity improves spatial awareness and helps kids focus on their surroundings.
Create a set of cards with different conversation starters, like “What’s your favorite place and why?” or “Describe a time when you felt really happy.” Kids pick a card, discuss the topic with a partner, and the partner has to summarize what was said. This exercise helps kids practice listening during conversations and articulating what they’ve understood.
While all of these activities and exercises can help you connect with your kids and encourage them to listen, sometimes you need extra support. That’s where Hero Journey Club comes in.
Our virtual support groups give kids safe spaces to connect with each other and themselves. Facilitated by our team of therapists, these groups leave plenty of room for talking about age-appropriate topics and listening carefully to what peers have to say. It’s a one-of-a-kind way for your kids to grow and learn key emotional and social skills.
Sign your child up for their first session today.
Sources
What Is Active Listening? | HBR
Characteristics of Effective Listening | Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning
How to Become a Better Listener | HBR
Role Playing | Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning | Northern Illinois Universit
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