How to Teach Toddlers to Listen

Eyes on the Speaker

• The way you address your toddler will have a substantial impact on how well she will listen. Start by getting down on your toddler̵7;s level when you want to give an instruction. Make eye contact so you know you̵7;ve got her attention and then keep it short and simple, recommends the Ask Dr. Sears website. Try to limit your instruction to a single sentence to make it easy for her to follow and to avoid drawing too deeply on her memory skills. When your conversation must be longer, pay careful attention to her body language. Excessive fidgeting, a disinterested look or eyes glazing over likely means she's gotten sidetracked and your message isn't making it through.

Praise and Perkiness

• You don̵7;t want to hear a constant stream of ̶0;no̵7;s̶1; and neither does your toddler -- and it̵7;s a surefire way to encourage her to tune you out. Try to use positive terms instead of negatives when giving your toddler instructions, advises the Child Development Institute in the article "20 Ways To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen." For example, tell your toddler to "walk, please" instead of "no running!" And when you use a positive, happy tone, your toddler will be more likely to follow through with your request. Whenever possible, catch her being good and let her know about it. ̶0;You̵7;re working so hard on that puzzle,̶1; or ̶0;You̵7;re doing an excellent job tidying your toys,̶1; are phrases your toddler will want to hear -- and she̵7;ll be more interested in paying attention to receive your shower of praise.

Warnings and Cues

• Toddlers have a difficult time switching gears, so when it̵7;s time to change activities a child's listening skills need to be primed. Make eye contact with your toddler and give her several minutes warning; let her know five minutes before it̵7;s time to clean up her toys to get ready for lunch. Try to come back at least one more time during the five-minute warning period to remind her about the upcoming change. This gives her the opportunity to prepare herself for the conclusion of one activity and the commencement of another. Use cues to help make listening easier, too. When it̵7;s time to clean up, flip the light on and off, clap a little rhythm or sing your instruction to a tune. Now, when it̵7;s time to clean up, she is more likely to listen and follow your instructions -- temper tantrum and meltdown-free.

Learning through Play

• While listening can be serious business, there̵7;s no reason not to make it fun. Encourage your toddler to develop her listening skills by adding a little music to the mix. Instead of barking out orders when it̵7;s time to clean up, teach your toddler a cleanup song to encourage cooperation. You can use games, such as treasure hunts or ̶0;Simon Says̶1; to help your child learn to follow directions, recommends the Center for Early Literacy Learning in the article "Listen Up! Talking and Listening." Make up silly rhymes, play follow the leader, do the ̶0;Hokey Pokey̶1; and encourage your child to participate during story time by pausing to ask her what she thinks comes next.