5 Communication Skills Your Child Needs
Communication allows children and adults to converse with each other. For kids, communication skills help them express themselves to their parents and teachers. Kids first learn how to communicate at home, through their parents and siblings. When they start attending school, their communication skills develop through the nursery rhymes or songs taught to them.
When kids learn to communicate well, it helps them gain more friends and hone their interpersonal skills. The more you converse with your kids, the more they develop their vocabulary and communication skills.
What are the communication skills your kids need to learn?
Communication skills form an integral part of a child’s development. Here are the following skills that your kids need to learn.
Being inquisitive
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
This quote ignites every curious kid to explore the things around them and try to learn as much as they can. One way of learning is through asking questions and just being inquisitive. Not only does it start a conversation but it also helps them develop friendships.
Being inquisitive is part of human nature. When kids meet the other kids in school, it’s natural for them to ask questions like where they live or what’s their lunch.
In case you face challenges about asking around, you may try these questions:
- What’s your favorite food?
- When’s your birthday?
- How do you sleep at night?
Moreover, communicating improves through continuous conversation or through role playing. When your kids are in school, they can strike a conversation about playing a game at school. Hence, it improves their conversational skills.
Discussing with other children
Sharing stories with classmates feels good. When they exchange their stories during recess, kids bond with their classmates. In turn, they end up forming a lasting friendship.
Remember to teach your kids to tell stories about their hobbies, dreams and aspirations, or even their favorite food or dessert. This helps them feel proud of themselves. They inspire their classmates to try out other things too.
Just don’t forget to teach them the value of humility and being polite when they talk to other people. Others avoid talking to people who seem arrogant and too proud of themselves. In order to prevent this, engage your children in a role playing activity to practice effectively communicating with other people. Remind them about balancing the stories they share with the questions they ask.
Clearly expressing their thoughts
When kids express themselves clearly, they communicate well. Help them learn about the proper pronunciation of words and help them express themselves. When they learn about the use of correct grammar, it helps them express themselves better and speak well. If they utter sentences with bad grammar, don’t embarrass or humiliate them in public. Speak to them and correct them privately. Encourage them to continue practicing as they get better whenever they try speaking.
Educate about listening to others
Communication is a two way street, it’s always give and take. When your kid speaks, make sure you listen to them and teach them how to listen when you speak. Listening doesn’t only involve stopping when your kids talk to you. It’s vital that you grasp every word they say and carefully understand it.
Always remind them to let the other person finish talking before they interrupt them or talk to them. This way, you teach them how not to be rude to others and a thing or two about self-control.
Always be amiable
“Smile, it’s the key that fits the lock on everyone’s hearts.”
Smiles give a lightening feeling that makes one approachable and seem friendly. When you smile at another person, it gives them a message that you’re someone who they can talk to. Remind them that when they smile to others, it gives them a positive outlook and energy that attracts other kids to become their friends.
Communication is one of the vital skills that someone needs to learn at a young age. Not only does it help them participate in different activities, but it also teaches them how to build their own circle of friends.