A Game To Improve Listening

Excerpt from "Essential Skills Every Preschooler Needs" - A listening game!

LISTENING MIRRORS

Listening is not only hearing what people say but also having the ability to process it. Listening involves using all the senses to receive information including interpreting body language.

OBJECTIVES

• Help the children practice the quiet focus that is necessary for effective listening.
  
• Assist the children in practicing awareness of what is around them and use this
  sensory input to communicate.
  
• Learn the give and take that is listening and response. 

WHAT TO SAY

Introduce this game to your class as they sit facing you in a group circle.

Say: “I will give each of you a partner to play this game.” After placing the children in groups of two, say, “Pretend you are staring at your reflection in a mirror. Can you move so slowly that I won’t be able to tell who is the reflection? Hold hands with your partner and face each other. Now let go of each other’s hands and pretend you are still connected not by hands but by your eyes. Can you stare into each other’s eyes? OK, now one of you will be a leader and one of you will be a follower. Followers, do exactly as the leaders do. Leaders start to slowly move your arms and let’s see if the followers can copy you at the same time while still keeping your eye connection.”

Watch the groups move and say, “Great job! You really look like mirrors! Now leaders try moving in different ways. Can you tilt your head to the side or bend knees? Don’t forget to keep moving slowly and smoothly without looking away from each other.”

After around 2 minutes have the children stop and say: “You did great! Now let’s ‘shake it out’, (children shake their bodies), and try again. This time the other child is the leader. Remember to move slowly! As the groups move, you can move among them, giving personal encouragement or coaching. If they move too fast say: “Maybe you should slow down so you partner can catch up.”
This game requires intense focus so even a minute per turn is great!

STEPS

1. Have children face each other in pairs 2 feet apart.
   
2. Pick a child to lead and one to copy the movements of the leader.
   
3. Tell children to watch each other like there is an imaginary string connecting their
   eyes. Keep the connection throughout the game.
   
4. The leader must move slowly enough to have the follower move at the same time
   like a reflection in a mirror.
   
5. Tell the children to reverse their roles and repeat the exercise.
   
6. You may choose to use slow and quiet music in the background.
   

TIME: 5-10 minutes.
DISCUSSION

• Which role did you like better, leader or follower?
  
• Can pairs move without a designated leader and follower? This is a challenge! Let’s try it.