Habit 5: seek first to understand, then to be understood
Parent Resources- *The information below comes from 'The Leader in Me' Parent Guide.
Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood means listening to others without interruption, trying to see things from others viewpoints, and being confident in voicing your own ideas. Young children can learn Habit 5 by learning "Whole Body Listening". Whole body listening is listening with your ears, eyes, mouth, hands, feet, brain, and heart.
Younger Child Activities:
1- Practice pretend listening with your child for a few minutes. Your child will be frustrated. Explain what you were doing and discuss how your child felt. Now switch roles and have your child ignore you while you are talking. Discuss how it makes you feel when you are ignored. Finish the discussion by thinking of ways to let the other person know when you feel you are not being truly listened to. Remind your child that this is also an example of Think Win-Win.
2- Play "Emotions Charades". Try to guess each others emotions (happy, sad, angry, frustrated, bored, excited, etc.) without using any words, just body language and facial expressions. This will demonstrate how children can listen with more then their ears.
3- Read Chapter 5 of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids book with your child and then complete the parents corner, if you have the book.
Primary-Age Children's Reading List, Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood means listening to others without interruption, trying to see things from others viewpoints, and being confident in voicing your own ideas. Young children can learn Habit 5 by learning "Whole Body Listening". Whole body listening is listening with your ears, eyes, mouth, hands, feet, brain, and heart.
Younger Child Activities:
1- Practice pretend listening with your child for a few minutes. Your child will be frustrated. Explain what you were doing and discuss how your child felt. Now switch roles and have your child ignore you while you are talking. Discuss how it makes you feel when you are ignored. Finish the discussion by thinking of ways to let the other person know when you feel you are not being truly listened to. Remind your child that this is also an example of Think Win-Win.
2- Play "Emotions Charades". Try to guess each others emotions (happy, sad, angry, frustrated, bored, excited, etc.) without using any words, just body language and facial expressions. This will demonstrate how children can listen with more then their ears.
3- Read Chapter 5 of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids book with your child and then complete the parents corner, if you have the book.
Primary-Age Children's Reading List, Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
- The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
- The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
- Jamaica's Find by Juanita Havill
- Alejandro's Gift by Richard E. Albert
- Marrying Malcolm Murgatroyd by Mame Farrell
- Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- Veronica Knows Best by Nancy Robinson
- The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz