Parents,

You can help your child develop the listening and comprehension abilities they

need to succeed. As children experience the joy of someone else’s undivided

attention, they learn to value listening and acquire the disposition to listen

thoughtfully to others (Dougherty & Paul, 2007; Smith, 2008).-Mary Jalongo

Be interested and attentive: Reply and maintain eye contact

Encourage talking: “Tell me about your day at school”…

Listen patiently: Listen as though you have plenty of time

Hear children out: Avoid cutting them off.

Listen to nonverbal messages: Voice, tone & facial expressions

Activities you can do…

1.) Make a simple DIY telephone and then turn it into a listening game!

2.) Go on a sound hunt outside and think about all the different noises you

hear along the way!

3.) Make your own sound cylinders to help you kids understand the

intensity

4.)

5.) 4.

6.) of sound! Retrieved from: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/52641/listening-skills

Be sure to: model good listening! Use information literacy

and online resources! Studies show technology is something

most children enjoy. Use Early Literacy sites to help you! Try:

StoryDog www.storydog.com,

LISTENING

COMPREHENSION IS

HIGHLY PREDICTIVE OF

OVERALL ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT

DON’T BE SHY, TELL

THEM WHY IT’S

IMPORTANT!

YOU CAN BE A

GREAT LISTENER!

LISTEN BETTER &

LEARN MORE!

BE ATTENTIVE,

Read-alouds help literacy and can “put the child in

charge” by turning pages, assisting with discussions before and after the book.

Look for ‘audible extras’ companion websites

Hearing Challenges

According to Mary Jalongo, Otitis media (OME)—a middle ear infection and resulting accumulation of fluid in the ear—is the most common cause of hearing loss and hearing problems in young children (Cole & Flexer, 2007). By 3 years of age, 1/3rd of children have had 3 or more episodes of OME and 85% of school age children have had at least one (Winskel, 2006).

Common difficulties. Flexer (1997) estimates that, on any given day, about 1/3 of first graders are not hearing normally due to allergies, background nose, tinnitus (caused by medications), ear infections, and so forth.

Retrieved from: http://www.listen.org/Resources/Documents/jalongo.pdf

Does your child:

1.) Turn up the volume of the TV excessively high? 2.) Respond inappropriately to questions? 3.) Not reply when you call him/her? 4.) Watch others imitate what they are doing? 5.) Have articulation problems or

speech/language delays? 6.) Have problems academically? 7.) Complain of earaches, ear pain or head noises? 8.) Have difficulty understanding what people are

saying? 9.) Seem to speak differently from other children

his or her age?

While these signs don't necessarily mean that

your child has a hearing problem, they could be

indicators of one. If you answered “yes" to any of

the following questions, or if you suspect your

child may have difficulty hearing. Contact your

Dr. to schedule time with an audiologist. http://www.pamf.org/hearinghealth/facts/children.html

The most

critical time for

language

development

is from birth to

4 yr of age.

Watch, listen &

you can help

young learners

grow and

learn! Early

Intervention is

the most

effective

treatment.