The Importance of Teaching Communication Skills to Kids

It was a hot summer’s day. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and all the cows were grazing in the pasture; all except Mama Moo. Sneaking from everyone’s eye, she jumped over the fence, took her bicycle and started her journey towards the Crow forest. After half an hour’s journey, she reached Crow forest where one of her very good friends Cristy used to reside. Cristy was a crow. Cristy was amused by Mama Moo’s arrival on her forest. She asked, “What are you doing here in the forest? You should be in the posture chewing your cud and staring around like a normal cow”. Moo replied that she need some help from Cristy. While they were conversing, Cristy noticed a packet in Moo’s hand. She asked, “What’s that?”. Moo expressed her wish that she wanted to swing, but she couldn’t tie the rope in the tree branch because she wouldn’t be able to reach the there.

For this reason she needed Cristy’s help. Cristy denied doing so because a normal cow never swings and it could be hazardous for the cow also. Then Mama Moo in her soft and convincing voice said to Cristy, “The farmer’s daughter told me that she likes to swing, so I wanted to try it too. But then she said it probably wouldn’t work because no one would want to put up a swing for a cow. But I told her that I have a friend, a good friend who is very kind and helps me whenever I need him. He won’t say no when I ask him. My friend’s name is Cristy, and I like her very much." The Crow sat still and looked at her; and finally agreed to help Mama Moo.

It was the soft and convincing language of Mama Moo that turned Cristy’s mind. In every walk of life, we also need this kind of convincing powers. A person, who can communicate well, easily reaches anyone’s heart. Childhood is the initial stage when this skill is nurtured among children. Not only in communicating with others, but for the expression of one’s thoughts and feelings, this skill is very much required. Some of the tips are discussed below that can help in grooming this skill among the children:-

1. To be a good speaker, one needs to be a good listener first. Thus, teach your child to listen everything minutely before replying anything,

2. Make your child aware of different communication groups like your family members, neighbors and peers. Always encourage them to take part in different social get together so that they can know about social norms and responsibilities,

3. Encourage the child to take part in debates and discussions. These constructive tasks help the kids to argue with others as well as different ways to effectively put forwards their arguments,

4. Always ask your child questions about new things that they came across and also seek their opinion about them,

5. Teach your child to pay attention to the many ways people express themselves.

In the initial days of a child’s life, the child learns things by observing others. So always try to main a healthy environment in the house where everyone should have the liberty of expressing the self. Never try to suppress the inner feeling of your child; it may impact them in a negative way.