My Favorite 4 Games For Toddlers That Build Listening Skills

Have you ever found yourself saying your child’s name over and over and over again?  I have.  My son is two, about to be three, and it occurred to me a few months ago that he is a stinky listener.

And I thought, “This is just a phase.  But seriously, when will he get better at this?”

Well, he didn’t get better with time, and I got more frustrated.  And then something else occurred to me.  If I have to teach my child to use a fork, pick up his toys, pee IN the potty, and say yes ma’am, shouldn’t I also help him learn to be a better listener? I found using Tipps fürs Töpfchen-Training helped with potty training.

LIGHTBULB!

At one point or another we ALL were awful listeners.  We had to see good listening modeled, practice good listening with others, and then we were finally sent out on our own to try it out for ourselves.

So, I started to brainstorm games that would…

• build listening skills
• encourage him to focus
• build on his ability to follow directions

Here are my top 4 favorite listening games to play with my toddler…

Red Light / Green Light

• Start with everyone along the starting line.
• When you say “Green Light” everyone will move towards the finish line
• When you say “Red Light” everyone much immediately stop
  • If players are still moving when you call ‘Red Light’, they must go back to the starting line.
• Start a new round when everyone gets across the finish line or when most players make it across the finish line.

For young kids, I make a paddle out of a paper plate that has green paper on one side and red paper on the other.  I use this paddle when playing to help the children identify the colors and what they mean.

• Choose 8 plastic eggs, and fill them in pairs with different objects.  For example
  • Two eggs filled with pennies
  • Two eggs filled with uncooked beans
  • Two eggs filled with marbles
  • Two eggs filled with sand
• It works well if all the eggs are the same color, but for beginners you can put them in eggs that match
• Have your child explore the eggs, then mix them up like a game of memory, and see if your child can match the two eggs that make the same sound

Tambourine March

• The leader holds a tambourine (or another noise making instrument)
• If the leader beats fast, everyone marches fast (or dances fast, depending on the game)
• When the leader beats slow, everyone marches as slowly as possible

Freeze Dance

• Put on some music and everyone starts dancing
• When you turn off the music, everyone  freezes.  If you don’t freeze, you’re out!
• Last one standing wins!

Helping my child listen on a daily basis:

1. Turn off the TV, or momentarily close the book or remove the toy he is playing with.
2. Have him face me and request that he look me in the eyes.
3. If he can handle it, I have him repeat what I’ve said.
   1. “Mommy said it’s time to take off your shoes and get ready for nap.  What did mommy say?”
4. I also follow through and hold him accountable.  Did he listen and/or do what was asked of him?
   1. i.e.: come to the table for dinner, pick up his toys, get his shoes and socks,  come when he was called?

Helping my child listen well isn’t a perfect science in my house.  But I can help. And I know I can help in a way that is fun.  This is just a small sample of me trying 🙂

Do you have games you play that are easy and build listing skills?  I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THEM!  Please post any games you’ve played in the comment section below!

Photo Credits: here, here

Katie Short

Hi, I’m Katie. I am new at this stay-at-home-mom thing, and I live in the deep HOT south. My days can be long and tiring at times, but I want to bring glory to God daily by loving my closest neighbors… my family. It is a calling, and I count it all joy. My days are spent playing outside with my son, sitting in a rocking chair with my “sweet potato” of a baby girl, and cooking yummy gut-healing food for my hubby. I am so excited to have the opportunity to write blog posts for AGoodTired and I hope you will find as much laughter and encouragement here as I have.