5 Methods for Teaching

Kids Communication
Skills
Effective communication is a key life skill, and it’s
important for us to help our children as they develop their
communication skills from an early age. The way a child is
able to communicate impacts the process of learning and
the meaningful exchange of information. A child who is
able to clearly communicate his or her thoughts, feelings,
and ideas in a classroom setting is more likely to perform
better at school than a student who does not communicate
effectively. Children with strong communication skills are
also more likely to build healthy relationships with others
as they encounter more opportunities to socialize with
peers because they are better equipped to express
themselves and convey their feelings more effectively.

Just like with any other skill, your child’s communication

skills can be improved with practice, and there are several
approaches you may find helpful as a parent to help your
child. Here’s a list of tips you can to help your child develop
strong communication skills.

Encourage conversation as often as possible

As a parent, it’s important for you to encourage your child

to begin or join in on conversations as much as possible.
We know that as children develop and grow, they learn
how to socialize by practicing their burgeoning
conversational skills, as they observe what works for them
in different situations. But did you know that it’s also
important for adults, especially parents, to help kids
practice these skills?
Start with casual conversations, such as the ones you may
have while preparing a meal together or during a car ride.
If you’re in the car together, you may chat about where
you’re going, discuss the destination, and ask your child
how he or she is feeling. If you’re working together in the
kitchen, you can encourage conversation by talking about
the recipe and the steps involved. Engage by answering
your child’s questions, especially if you get the sense that
your child is enthusiastic about being involved.

Listen to what your child has to say

Listening is also a vital skill for kids to learn at an early age.

A great way to teach your child about the importance of
good listening skills is by modeling this behavior yourself.
Active listening skills start with you as a parent in order to
set an example for your child. When children are repeating
what you say and mimicking your actions, it shows that
repetition reinforces the behavior we want our children to
learn. We see this when we teach our kids about manners
or how to act in social interactions (for example, saying
“Hello” back to someone.

You can model good listening skills by paying attention to

what your child says. Repeat back part of what your child
has said to confirm your understanding. It’s also a good
idea to follow up with a question. For example, you may
say, “It looks like you had a great time during your art
session. What kind of project do you plan to work on next
time?”

Make conversations fun

Another tip for teaching good communication skills to kids

is to incorporate fun into conversations. There are days
when it may feel challenging to come up with interesting
topics. You can start by sharing a funny story or experience
you had during the day. Then, encourage your child to
share their own funny stories or talk about activities they
did at school.
Read with your child

Reading skills are an essential aspect of effective

communication and overall language development.
Reading skills benefit children in so many ways, including
teaching new words, expanding their vocabulary, and
enhancing their cognitive abilities.

Research also shows that children who read regularly tend

to be more empathetic toward others than children without
exposure to the written word. When kids read, it enables
them to experience the joy and pain of others through
stories.

Teach children how to take turns

Because listening is part of effective communication, it’s

important to teach your child how to wait for his or her turn
to speak. You can practice this by using toys or playing
games. For example, you may play a game in which the
person holds the ball when it’s his or her turn to speak.
Your child then waits for the ball to be passed to him or her
before speaking.

Good communication skills aren’t something that children

are born with. This is where your role as parents comes in.
Follow these tips to help you teach your child about
communication skills so he or she can be better equipped
for success in school, and beyond.

For more parenting tips and resources, feel free to

visit Cornerstone Learning Center.
Communication Skills for Kids –
Importance and Activities to
Improve
By

ADVERTISEMENT

Possessing a set of proper oral language skills can be described as an

essential life skill in today’s times. Parents should start teaching their kids
basic communication skills during their early years, and work to hone those
skills as they grow. Assuming that kids may learn suitable communication
skills sans parental guidance can be a huge mistake. Nowadays, parents
coach their kids not only to communicate effectively but also politely.

Why Are Communication Skills Important in Child Development?

Communication skills are important in child development for the following
reasons:

Basic Communication Skills a Child Should Know

Here are some basic communication skills that a child should know:

What to Do if the Child Is Unable to Communicate Effectively

Some useful tips on how to develop children’s communication skills can be:

1. Build an open line of communication so that your child can easily approach
you and express himself without hesitation.
2. Let your child have plenty of time to process what he wishes to say, and
allow him to finish, to prevent the occurrence of stuttering. Refrain from
cutting in or interrupting him while he is trying to respond.
3. Avoid over-correction and being overcritical while teaching your child to
speak well. It will only discourage him.
4. Children usually learn best by imitating their adults. Therefore, parents
should present a good speaking model to their kids to help them
communicate suitably.
5. When communicating with your child, ensure you take turns, make proper
eye contact and display appreciation for his active participation.

Communication Activities and Games for Kids

Some interesting communication activities and games for kids can be:

1. Play Telephone
This popular and fun game helps enhance good listening skills in kids and can
be played by kids of all age groups. You can include other members of the
family as well. Have everyone sit in a circle, close enough to whisper easily.
Start with one child, who will whisper a message into the ear of the player
sitting to the right, who then whispers it into his neighbour’s ears, and so on
until everyone in the circle has taken a turn. The player at the end relays the
message out loud. Once this is done, the last person to receive the message
can reveal it. It’s very likely that the original message and the final received
message will differ! You can start with a simple message, and slowly progress
to more complex sentences.

2. Pointing Directions
Nonverbal communication activities for kids can include this simple game.
Ask your kid to write down directions to his nearby favourite shop or park.
Then, embark on a journey along with your kid, following those written
directions to reach the place. On the way, help him understand how he can
make them better, or things he may mention to communicate better.

3. Show and Tell

A show and tell activity can be a delightful verbal communication game for
kids. Give your kid a topic, like his favourite fruit, a favourite book, or a road
trip with the family. Have him exhibit an item related to the topic, and ask
him to speak five lines on it. This activity can assist in furthering your kid’s
confidence, vocabulary, and eloquence.

4. Picture Storytelling
Picture storytelling can be an exciting activity, as kids love to tell stories.
Provide your kid with a set of pictures. Ask him to arrange them in a logical
sequence and spin a story from it. Alternatively, you can offer him just one
picture, and have him describe the things he perceives in the picture, like the
scenery, people, colours, and other details.

5. Presentation
This exciting activity will not only promote your kid’s oral language skills but
will also help him get comfortable with public speaking. You can propose
various themes, ranging from the recitation of a favourite poem to expressing
his views on current topics like saving water, recycling, the use of gadgets,
and so on. Ask him to prepare a short presentation to present to a family
gathering, local park functions, or anywhere he feels comfortable.

6. Extempore
Extempore or spontaneous speech forms an integral part of oral
communication and can be used to expand communication skills. Extempore
helps support your kid in thinking on his feet and articulating his ideas
correctly. This activity will suitably prepare him for future career prospects as
well. Make chits on interesting topics, and have your kid pick a chit and speak
on the chosen topic, impromptu, for a few minutes.

7. Emotional Charades
This fun activity is great for helping kids understand different facial
expressions, signals, and body postures when communicating. These are the
non-verbal communication cues that complement verbal communication.
Hand out a few cards to your kid, each card depicting a particular emotion or
feeling, like anger, sadness, boredom, fatigue, or happiness, and have him
act them out. Your kids can also draw the different emotions he is likely to
experience in ordinary situations.

8. 20 Questions
20 questions is a wonderful game that enables your kid’s ability to formulate
and ask direct questions. Ask kids to stand in a circle. Let one kid stand in the
centre, and he has to think of a famous place or a known personality. The
other kids in the group have to identify it by asking a set of 20 questions. The
child can respond by saying only yes or no. In case the group fails to guess,
the child in the centre is declared the winner!

9. Identify the Object

You may require 4 -5 kids to play this game. Blindfold one child, while the
rest of the players choose an object that can be described elaborately for
easy identification. Every player takes a turn describing one feature of the
selected object. The blindfolded kid may ask additional questions as cues.

10. Changing the Leader

This game can be a great training tool for teaching kids how to recognize
body language indicators. Choose one kid as the leader, who will perform
specific actions, like stomping his feet or clapping. The other kids have to
imitate his actions. The leader then selects another kid as the leader by
smiling or winking at him. Other kids have to detect the new leader and then
replicate his actions.

Parents who communicate often and efficiently with their kids may be able to
help them develop sound communication skills easily. Communication
proficiency may not only provide your kid with better comfort in social
situations but can also ensure improved performances academically and later
in their careers.