Fun Ways To Encourage Communication Skills In Your Young Child

It’s always been important to communicate with our children, but it’s more important now than ever! It’s the information age, and studies are now showing that children who are skilled in communication techniques will also do better in school, make more money in their future careers, and be more successful all around.

Luckily, there are lots of fun ways to teach your child how to communicate effectively! Below are a few activities and games to encourage communication in your young child while having fun:

• Directions – Have your child write out the directions from your house to a fun (but close) destination. For example, the park a few blocks over. Next, follow the directions precisely. If you make it to the park, play and have fun! If not, discuss what went wrong in the communication and what could have been changed to get you there next time! This teaches kids that in order to communicate what it is that you want, you have to learn to say what you mean.
• Telephone – We’ve all played this old elementary school game! Invite lots of kids, adults, or teens to sit in a circle. Whisper a message to your neighbor and have them pass the message along. When it comes to the end of the circle, see if the beginning message and the ending message are the same! This game encourages your child to be clear when they speak and will also develop their listening skills
• The “Um” Game – Have your child talk about a topic they’re passionate about. See how long he or she can talk without one of the “um” words – um, er, uh, like, etc. Not only will this develop your child’s eloquence, but it will build confidence as well! Eliminating these words will help your child become more articulate.
• Finish The Story – Kids absolutely love stories! In this game, you start off a fun little story and have your child finish it. This goes a long way to helping you teach your child beginning communication skills.

Here at Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we know how important it is to communicate with your child! Both for your child’s future success as well as for your current relationship with your children.

For more tips on how to effectively communicate with your kids, or if they need an appointment at our office, please contact Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics at our Firestone, CO location today!