Posts tagged talking to kids

Small children are learning machines. They are wonderful mimics, noticing and trying everything. They also practice until they get something. Give them language like open and closed or up and down and watch them apply it with everything they can reach.  

Small children are not only watching, they love to be included—but then, don’t we all?

Recently, my daughter-in-law, Ranee, picked me up at my hotel. Abigail, who is two, and Caroline, who is four, were in their car seats in the back.  Just as I got in, this conversation occurred:

Abigail: “Baby want five.”

Me: “Five what, Abigail?”

Caroline, my interpreter, said, “Grandpa Paul, Abigail wants a high five!”

Ranee then explained that the previous evening, Abigail had been disappointed when I reached in and gave Caroline a high five handshake but did not do so for Abigail. 

One more reminder for me to slow down, pay attention, and notice who might like to be included—even if they are only two!

• Who is disappointed when you don’t acknowledge their presence?
• Who would love more of your time and attention?
• Who is learning from you moment by moment?

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” —Robert Fulghum, American author

(Source: tenpowerfulthingstosay.com)

“One of the things you talk about in Ten Powerful Things to Say to Your Kids really stuck with me: being a good listener. I’m working on improving my listening skills—life just gets so much more interesting when you focus and pay very close attention to what people are saying. When they know you are actually listening to them, they light up and become more alive. Being a good listener is an incredible gift we can all bring to the world.

“I play old time string band music (fiddle and banjo), and I learn all my tunes by ear. And in the jams, people are always playing ‘new’ tunes that we have to listen to to be able to play them. But also, in a jam, I try to make eye contact with each player around the circle and listen closely to the sound coming from their instruments. When players notice that I’m paying attention to them, they always smile and lean into their instruments, letting their joyful soul flow through it. It’s all magic that comes from loving attention.”

- John L.,  Oregon