More Insights About Active Listening
We do more to hurt their precious self-esteem when we constantly hover, praising their every success and trying too hard to minimize mistakes. Children need to make mistakes. Then they learn to persevere and teaches them it’s more important to continue tackling challenges than it is to get things right on the first try.
This means less hovering at home and in classrooms. It may be hard for you, but it’s what your child needs. Don’t assume your view of children is the right one and neglect to ask the children themselves.
Kids might just surprise you. Child psychologists are regularly surprised at what studies reveal about children. What these researchers and scientists do right is simply ask questions and observe. The children provide the answers.
Listen Like Jesus
Ask yourself, how was Jesus with the children? He modeled interactions for us perfectly. Jesus loved having the children come to Him. He cared for and valued them.
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:2-5)
In doing so, Jesus listened to the children. So let us also use active listening today. Teachers and parents may be surprised to hear all that kids have to say.
