Children often seek attention and want interest from the adult that they are talking to. Active listening is a way of doing this. It lets the child feel as if they are cared for and this lets them express their emotions when they know someone is actively listening. When listening actively, the child needs to have your full attention. You stop doing whatever you are doing at the time, look at the child and make sure that you are at the same height as them. This makes them feel equal to you and does not intimidate them. You need to let the child know that you understand. When actively listening when the children are young, it makes sure that they know they have a teacher that they can trust. If actively listening is carried out, it allows for the child to be more open towards sharing their feelings.
