Listening Pairs

Listening Pairs

Here's a children's activity guide for social development focusing on active listening through listening pairs:

Activity: Listening Pairs

Materials needed: None

Instructions:

       1. Explain to the child what active listening is - the practice of fully focusing on and understanding what someone else is saying.

       2. Discuss the importance of active listening in effective communication, building relationships, and showing respect for others.

       3. Introduce the concept of listening pairs, where two participants take turns being the speaker and the listener.

       4. Pair up the child with another participant. If there is an odd number of participants, you can join as a listener or facilitate the activity.

       5. Explain the rules of listening pairs: one person will be the speaker and the other will be the listener. The speaker will share a story, an experience, or their thoughts on a specific topic while the listener's role is to actively listen without interrupting or offering advice.

       6. Set a time limit for each person to speak, such as 2-3 minutes. Use a timer to keep track of the time.

       7. Encourage the speaker to share their thoughts or story while the listener focuses on listening attentively. Remind the listener to maintain eye contact, nod or provide verbal cues to show understanding, and refrain from interrupting.

       8. After the time is up, switch roles. The listener becomes the speaker and vice versa.

       9. Repeat the process for multiple rounds, allowing each participant to have a chance to speak and listen.

      10. After the activity, gather everyone for a debriefing session. Discuss the experience, how it felt to be the speaker and the listener, and what they learned about active listening.

      11. Encourage participants to apply active listening skills in their everyday interactions, such as with family members, friends, or teachers. Remind them to be present, attentive, and engaged in their conversations.

      12. Consider incorporating variations of the activity, such as having participants share specific emotions or focusing on a particular topic during the listening pairs.

Remember, the purpose of this activity is to promote social development, active listening, empathy, and effective communication through listening pairs. 

Encourage the child and the participants to actively participate, respect each other's ideas, and enjoy the process of listening and being heard. Enjoy the growth and deeper connections that come from active listening in listening pairs!