Nursery 2
(4 year olds)
Characteristics
For the children's language development, they are able to answer simple questions, speak in sentences of 5 to 6 words and even tell stories clearly in complete sentences. 37 They love to play with language, uses it to engage in bathroom talk, tell tales and make up silly rhymes. 11
For the children's cognitive development, they are able to understand the ideas of same and different. They can follow three-part commands, count and understand the concept of counting. 37
For the children's motor development, they are able to kick, throw, catch a ball, climb well, run confidently and ride a tricycle. 37
For the children's social emotional development, they are often seen to imitate their parents and friends. They show affection towards the people around them, understand the idea of "mine" and "his/hers" and show a wide range of emotions. 37
Listening
Definition
Listening is a process of reciprocity in which we attend to what is said and meant to build an ethic of care and respect. It is the foundation of a respectful learning relationship. 19
The interrelated phases of listening
Hearing
Focusing on what is heard
Identifying what is heard
Translating what is heard
Interpreting it
Remembering it
Video Explanation
Watch this video to get a better understand of what is listening, and how you can demonstrate active listening.
Why listening?
It is important to develop the children's listening skills during the pre-school years as they lay the foundation for reading and writing. Therefore, while they are learning to be effective communicators, the teachers need to help them develop listening skills. 22
At this age, the children are starting to build relationships with others. Therefore, it is the teacher's role to equip them with listening skills to help them better interact with their peers. As children who feel appreciated and valued (through active listening) are more likely to confide their feelings to their acquaintances. Hence, cultivating their skills in active listening is a way to facilitate day to day affairs and the formation of lasting friendships.
At this age, most children are still in the egocentric phase. Therefore, equipping them with listening skills would help them learn more about others as they listen and pay attention to what others are saying. 36
As the children are still developing a sense of self-identity, these listening skills would aid in the children's self-discovery. As they listen to the interactions around them, they gain more knowledge and experiences and start to develop their own ideas and preferences. 36
Children of this age are easily distracted (short attention spans), cultivating listening skills would help them increase their focus on the task and hence better process the information presented to them. This will not only help their cognitive development but social-emotional development too.
At this age, children are starting to master new skills such as reading and writing. Therefore, it is important to help them gain self-confidence in overcoming their frustrations and worries. By listening to the children, they would feel values, thus increasing their sense of self-esteem and confidence. This would have a positive impact on their development 19
Strategies
How to model active listening?
Teachers can model how to take part in conversations and discussions through active listening and asking questions.
Face the child who is speaking
Make and keep eye contact
Provide feedback
Listen to what the child is saying and do not interrupt
Watch the video to get a better understanding of how to model active listening.
Repeat or paraphrase what the child has said to show understanding
Strategies for cultivating a listening community
1. Model good listening skills
For example, the teacher model the listening skills through a game of "Simon Says" with the children
Look a the speaker in the eye
Repeating the directions to yourself: Say it aloud so that the children can hear you
Not moving until you've heard all the instructions: Say, "Ok, he's finished giving me the instructions so now I may begin."
Speak aloud what you're going to do as if you were picturing it in your mind before doing it
After "Simon" gives you a few short instructions, ask the class to tell you what they witnessed you did well: Write the answers in a thinking map on the board.
2. Daily skill practice
Through daily activities such as drawing or playing of toys, the teacher must focus on oral instructions provided, visualizing the tasks given and completing them accurately.
For example, provision of short verbal instructions on task completion and have them practice listening and completing the tasks without repeating the instructions.
Watch this video for an example of the instruction activity. You may choose to integrate the same concept into a drama activity or use instructions that allow children more freedom. For example "Show me how a cat walks!" or in a scavenger hunt activity of "Find me the smallest object in the classroom!"
3. Story telling game
Create a story with the entire class. Here, the children are encouraged to pay attention and listen to each other's input to the story.
Start a story with a beginning phrase.
Going in a circle, each child will then add on a word to the story
Active participants
Another game is the traditional game of telephone (where a message is passed around the room to see if it stays the same)
Listening activity: LIstening Walk
Part 1: Exploration and listening
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Go for a walk around the neighborhood with the children
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Everyone to listen carefully to the sounds around them.
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Have the children to walk around and ask them to stay very quiet.
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Ask them what they hear.
Part 2: Describing
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Help the children find words to describe that they hear
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A walk in different places would produce different sounds (e.g. park, classroom, market)
E.g. Cars and lorries on the road (brmm brmm); Wind blowing (whoosh); People talking (chatters)
Part 3: Discussion
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Back in the classroom, have the children recall the different sounds that they have heard
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Encourage them to not only listen to the sounds but make them as well
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You may even share some interesting sounds you heard with the class