Listening comprehension is more than just hearing what is said; rather, it is a child’s ability to understand the meaning of the words he hears and to relate to them in some way. When children hear a story, for instance, good listening comprehension enables them to understand it, remember it, discuss it, and even retell it in their own words. This is an important skill to develop even at an early age, because good listeners grow up to become good communicators.
Speaking out loud is the most common form of communicating, and learning to fully understand what is being said is paramount if children are to thrive. Tone of voice, pauses between words, where the emphasis is placed in a sentence, and the rhythm and pattern of speech all have an impact on the meaning of the words being spoken and the message they are meant to convey. Learning to listen carefully and comprehend those subtleties is not only an important prerequisite to reading comprehension, but also provides a rich resource for your children to draw upon when they want to convey their own thoughts and feelings.