The Early Years Communication Handbook by Cooper Janet;

Author:Cooper, Janet;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: development, speech, language, additional language, communication, observe, observing, listening, speaking, bilingual, bilingualism
ISBN: 1507799
Publisher: Andrews UK Ltd.
Published: 2013-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

Did you know?

More than 90% of our communication is conveyed by non-verbal means.

Did you know?

Smiling releases chemicals called endorphins (natural pain killers) and serotonin. Together they make us feel good and can boost our immune system.

Attention and listening skills

Learning to listen and pay attention is a key skill which underpins language development. Children need pay ‘selective attention’ to sounds in order to react to the right ones. Most children develop this selective attention at around eight months to one years old.

Unfortunately in today’s society there are many barriers hindering this development. Children are growing up in homes with constant background noise from televisions, music systems, computers and electronic games. Listening development requires someone to be close to the child, make eye contact, speak directly to the child with minimum distractions and also to give the child chance to talk.

Many practitioners are reporting home environments where children rarely have a key adult to speak to and where they are exposed to high levels of background noise and visual distractions. This makes it even more important for early years practitioners to get the setting’s environment right. Children with communication difficulties may have particular problems with listening and will need the environment to be responsive to these needs. All staff within a setting should reflect on their own practice and have opportunities to discuss this with other members of staff.

Listening activities

Musical statues

Ask all of the children to stand. Play an instrument, such as a a tambourine. While you are playing the instrument the children should walk around. When you stop playing the instrument the children must stand very still. Vary this game by introducing new rules such as when the sound stops the children must sit down or shake hands.

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