Communication skills are one of the most important skills for every child. Good communication skills help a child to express himself or herself clearly, which in turn leads to healthy relationships and high levels of self-confidence. A child must start to develop communication skills at an early age. Parents can play an important role in a child’s journey of learning how to communicate effectively and clearly. Through this journey, parents will get ample opportunities to support the child’s growth, improving his/her confidence and academic performance.
How can a parent help in developing communication skills in their kids? : Indus valley school is one of the Best International Schools in Hyderabad offering contemporary education in a safe and hygienic environment
1. Regular Conversations with the child
Conversations with parents leave a deep and lasting impact on children. Therefore, parents should interact with the child at every opportunity. Parents can also encourage their kids to talk about situations in daily life, such as a conversation about a simple recipe, or about the destination they may travel to.
2. Read Together
Parents should motivate kids to read together and assist kids in describing the story they read. They can discuss the characters, plot, and other small events that happened in the story.
3. Total Attention to kids when they are talking
Kids need undivided attention from their parents. Parents need to listen to their kids attentively and answer their questions patiently and creatively.
4. Maintaining Eye contact
While conversing with the kid, proper eye contact is essential. Maintaining eye contact while interacting is a display of respect and engagement, and children will pick up this essential habit from parents.
5. Encourage Journaling
Kids can be taught about writing the day-to-day activities through journaling as it helps them to think and express themselves clearly. It can be very productive and will help them to let out their emotions easily.
Activities To Develop Good Communication Skills in Kids
1. Storytelling through Pictures
Give your child some pictures. Ask them to use the images and sequentially describe a story. Another way is to provide them with one picture and ask them to imagine and create a story related to that picture.
Skills used: Imagination and creativity; Articulation of thoughts in a sequential manner.
2. Extempore
Make chits on social causes, day-to-day topics, or any interesting topic depending on the age of the child, and ask the child to pick a chit. The child can speak on that topic for a few minutes without rehearsing. This activity will encourage kids to be aware of the latest happenings across the globe and will motivate them to read and know more.
Skills used: Quick thinking; proper organization and expression of ideas.
3. Alternate Ending for a story/poem
Kids should be encouraged to read fiction and traditional classics and should be made to think of an alternate ending to that story. For example, Hare and Tortoise story can be thought of differently and the child should be asked to finish the story differently, like what would have happened if the hare hadn’t slept in the middle of the race, or if the tortoise were to ride on the back of a lion!
Skills used: Creativity; Problem Solving; Decision Making.
4. Show and Tell
Let the kid pick any object of his/her choice and the kid should be able to speak a few lines describing that object. The kid can talk about the appearance of that object, its color, shape, functionality, etc. Later, the parent can choose objects and ask kids to describe objects chosen by parents to make the activity interesting.
Skills used: Vocabulary; Confidence; Eloquence
5. Presentations using Digital/Non-Digital Mediums
Kids may prepare presentations using digital mediums like PowerPoint presentations or they may make charts to express themselves by choosing topics ranging from saving water and saving electricity to international topics of their interests.
Skills used: Public Speaking; Confidence; Thinking; Creativity; IT Skills
In conclusion, communication is a key skill that helps children interpret information coming their way and express their thoughts creatively. Parents have a vital role to play in developing a child’s skills and need to participate actively in their child’s development. Indus Valley International Schools In Adibatla that believes in education beyond classrooms.Indus Valley is one of the Top CBSE Schools In Hyderabad with international standard academics, efficient teaching skills & care for students.