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Talking and listening play major roles in
children's school success. It's through hearing parents and family members
talk and through responding to that talk that young children begin to pick
up the language skills they will need if they are to do well.
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For
example, children who don't hear a lot of talk and who aren't
encouraged to talk themselves often have problems learning to read,
which can lead to other school problems. In addition, children who
haven't learned to listen carefully often have trouble following
directions and paying attention in class.
Think of talking with your child as being like a tennis game with
words--instead of a ball--bouncing back and forth. Find time to talk
any place, for example:
- As you walk with your child or ride with her in a car or on a
bus, talk with her about what she's doing at school. Ask her to
tell you about a school assembly or a field trip. Point out and
talk about things that you see as you walk--funny signs, new cars,
and interesting people.
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- As you shop in a store, talk with your child about prices,
differences in brands and how to pick out good vegetables and
fruit. Give your child directions about where to find certain
items, then have him go get them.
- As you fix dinner, ask your child to help you follow the steps in
a recipe. Talk with him about what can happen if you miss a step or
leave out an ingredient.
- As you fix a sink or repair a broken table, ask your child to
hand you the tools that you name. Talk with her about each step you
take to complete the repair. Tell her what you're doing and why
you're doing it. Ask her for suggestions about how you should do
something.
- As you watch TV together, talk with your child about the
programs. If you're watching one of her favorite programs,
encourage her to tell you about the background of the characters,
which ones she likes and dislikes and who the actors are. Compare
the program to a program that you liked when you were her age.
- As you read a book with your child, pause occasionally to talk to
him about what's happening in the book. Help him to relate the
events in the book to events in his life: "Look at that tall
building! Didn't we see that when we were in Chicago?" Ask him to
tell in his own words what the book was about. Ask him about new
words in a book and help him to figure out what they mean.
It's also important for you to show your child that you're
interested in what he has to say. Demonstrate for him how to be a
good listener:
- When your child talks to you, stop what you're doing and pay
attention. Look at him and ask questions to let him know that
you've heard what he said: "So when are you going to help your
granddad work on his car?"
- When your child tells you about something, occasionally repeat
what he says to let him know that you're listening closely: "The
school bus broke down twice!"
Through these conversations you are
teaching your child how to sequence their thoughts, be a good listener and a
good story teller. It is great preparation for their school career.
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