Listening Skills: The Give Me Five Technique

Listening and learning go hand-in-hand. Weak listening skills can negatively impact a person’s ability to learn. Many children need to learn how to listen.

According to speech language pathologists, Liz Spooner and Jacqui Woodcock, and authors of the book, Teaching Children to Listen: A Practical Approach to Developing Children’s Listening Skills * teaching children to listen involves (*Amazon affiliate link included):

• Teaching what good listening means
• Explaining why good listening is a helpful thing to do
• Motivating them to engage in good listening independently

Give Me 5  is a visual technique to help children demonstrate good active listening.

It entails having them do the following with 5 different body parts:

1. Eyes are watching.
2. Ears are listening
3. Mouth is closed.
4. Body is upright and calm.
5. Hands are empty and still.

I created this visual of Give Me Five and regularly use it with my clients and daughter.

It is available for download in The Listen and Follow the Directions Packet: Fun Activities to Promote Your Child’s Listening Skills.

Click the image below to learn more!

Source: Swain, K.D., Friehe, M.M., Harrington, J.M. (2004). Teaching listening strategies in the inclusive classroom. Intervention in School and Clinic, 40, 48-54

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Listening Skills: How to Get Your Child’s Attention Before Speaking

7 Close-Ended Games, Activities, & Toys to Build Attention in Preschoolers