How often do you talk to your child? Do you spend time having conversations with them? Whether serious or playful, making time to talk to your little ones is something that all parents should never take for granted. Hence, parents think of strategies for engaging preschooler in conversations.
Meaningful conversations help a child develop confidence and build trust. It makes them feel that you care about them and are interested in how they feel and think. It also teaches them how to effectively communicate.
Where to start on engaging preschoolers to converse meaningfully?
Because rich conversations can benefit your child in more ways than one, here are some strategies that can help you when it comes to engaging preschoolers in meaningful conversations.
Find opportunities in everyday activities
Engaging preschoolers in meaningful conversation does not require that you create activities designed solely for that purpose. All you have to do is to find opportunities in your child’s daily activities. Instead of being the one to tell your child the series of events that will take place, it is better to get them involved.
For example, rather than saying they will go to school the next day, ask them about the things they will do at school. Encourage them to tell a story by telling you about the activities they will do, the ones they enjoy and look forward to. Also ask them what they do before, during and after school. By recognizing these opportunities, it will be easier to engage kids in meaningful conversation pertaining to their daily activities.
Get your child involved in everything
Each time you are with your child is an opportunity to engage them in a conversation that sparks learning. Whether you are in the car driving or doing the groceries, you can engage them by asking about their thoughts on things. For example, you can ask them why they think traffic signs are important, or why people have to fall in line at the cashier when paying for groceries.
Speak at their level of understanding
When talking to your little one, it is important to make sure you adjust your language and choice of words according to their level of understanding. Vary your way of communicating so as not to make the conversation difficult for your child to engage in.
Be open to talk about anything
Showing your child they can talk to you about anything will make it easy for them to communicate their thoughts and emotions. They will feel comfortable talking to you and opening up because they know they are understood. They will be willing to share if they had a great day, or if something bothers them. This way, you can find plenty of opportunities to transform the conversation into something meaningful and a learning experience.
Take the initiative to drive the discussion
Young kids may ask a lot of questions that spark their curiosity. However, parents shouldn’t always expect their children to be the one to start conversations. Make it a point to drive the discussion. It’s a good idea to ask open-ended questions rather than questions answerable by yes or no. This will encourage kids to think deeper and share more ideas. It also helps sharpen their conversation skills.
Be a good listener
Nothing will encourage a child to talk better than by knowing they are being listened to. Like adults, children also go through bad days. There will be times when they need a listening ear and just want to talk things through. Knowing you are there to listen is an excellent way to encourage them to initiate a conversation with you. Be sure to give them your undivided attention. Focus on them alone and nothing else. Avoid fiddling with your mobile phone or watching TV. Not only will it encourage meaningful conversation, but it will also make them feel how important they are to their parents.
Spending adequate time on meaningful conversation is extremely important. This is one of the top priorities every parent should have. Make sure you always have quality time for rich conversations with your kids and don’t forget to try these preschool engagement strategies.
Here at LaunchPad Early Education, we value the importance of engaging preschoolers in rich conversations. This is why we implement helpful strategies to achieve our goals for each child’s complete and holistic development. Learn more about the things your little one can learn from our preschool and more preschool preparation tips by visiting LaunchPad Early Education.