How To Improve Communication Skills In Children

The ability to communicate effectively is not just essential for adults, but for children as well. Children need good communication skills at school when they discuss academic concepts with teachers and participate in group discussions in class. A child with adequate communication skills expresses herself well and also understands how to listen to other people. Whether your child is just starting her school career or has been in school for several years, it is never too late to help your child communicate her thoughts more clearly.

Step 1

Teach your child the skill of active listening. Ask him to pay attention to your body language, your tone of voice and the meaning behind your words. Tell him a silly story and ask him to tell you what he heard you say. Praise him when he communicates the story back to you correctly. As you talk with him, stop and ask him to read your facial expressions.

Step 2

Play "Just a Minute" as recommended by the website Teaching Expertise. Write down several short topic titles and put the titles in a jar. Use "How To" titles like "How to make a peanut butter sandwich" or "How to jump rope." Ask your child to draw a topic from the jar. Let him look at the topic and then set a timer for one minute. Instruct him to talk about the topic for the entire minute. The purpose of this activity is to teach him to stay on one topic as he talks rather than straying from the given topic.

Step 3

Cut five to ten pictures out of a magazine. Show the pictures to your child and ask her to choose a picture. Begin telling her a story you make up about the picture. If the picture shows a mother and daughter cooking together, give the people in the picture names and make up a few details about their life. Stop talking and ask your child to finish the story. Encourage her to tell the story to a complete ending, but reassure her that there are no incorrect answers.

Step 4

Use a beach ball to help your child learn to share how he is feeling and what things are happening in his life. Inflate the ball and use a permanent marker to write "talking points" in each differently colored section. Jenine M. De Marzo, Ed.D., author of the book "Healthy Breaks," recommends using talking points such as how your child is feeling, what your child enjoys playing and what dreams your child has for the future. Leave the talking point questions open-ended to encourage your child to use complete sentences and phrases to communicate his thoughts and feelings. Pass the ball between the two of you and take turns answering the questions. Involve the rest of the family to make a game everyone will enjoy.

Tips and Warnings

Model good communication skills yourself and listen carefully when your child talks to you. Discourage other family members from interrupting each other. Frequently ask your child to describe his feelings. Let your child tell stories using puppets. Play a game of charades to help develop her skills.
Consult with a doctor, a guidance counselor or your child's teacher if you are concerned that you child may have delayed or impaired communication abilities.