First Time Listening

 

As a parent, you strive to see your children become great at listening and focusing. Young kids are still learning how the World works, and might not have full comprehension of the fact that they need to listen to what they are told to do in order to succeed. However, just like any other skill, listening is something that can be practiced and developed.

 

At MPAMA, we use the phrase “First Time Listening” to denote a special kind of listening that requires students to, as the name suggests, follow directions the first time they are given. We believe that this is the most optimal form of listening because it encourages students to be focused while instructors are giving directions, and, if done properly, only requires the directions to be given once. When First Time Listening is demonstrated by our students, it helps them AND our team tremendously by saving time. When instructions need to be repeated, precious minutes are taken away from class time. That is a key reason why we encourage our students to be good First Time Listeners.

 

Another reason we preach this concept is because it is an essential tool for life. Listening to those in charge, or even just our friends and family, is a beneficial skill. Wherever our students may go, listening the first time someone says something will be sure to help them succeed. Listening is an important process that takes place in nearly every environment one may find themselves in.

 

 When it comes to being a good First Time Listener, we encourage our students to follow 3 steps:

1. Listen
2. Think
3. Do

 

Listen

It may sound a little silly to say, but listening is only one part of First Time Listening. Listening refers to taking in the instructions that are given. It utilizes hearing, one of the five senses. However, we are always careful to make a clear distinction between “hearing” and “listening.” Hearing is just using your ears, which is something that we are always doing. We are always “hearing” sounds and noises, including the words other people say. However, listening takes hearing to the next level by adding in focus and attention. In order to truly “listen,” one must be fully focused on what they are “hearing.” For instance, you can hear a bird chirping, but a professional bird watcher listens with intent to figure out what kind of bird it is.

 

When it comes to listening, we make sure to have our students stay focused. That means they have to follow the 3 rules of Focus (which is a blog for another week!), which includes focusing the eyes, mind, and body. In order to listen properly, students should keep their eyes on the teacher, their mind on the subject at hand, and their bodies still. Otherwise, students may risk losing focus by getting distracted. In classes, whenever we see a student start to lose focus, one of our team members or SWAT members will kindly remind them to return their focus back to the instructor. Now, we recognize that focusing on a task can look different for each student so we encourage students to do their personal best when following this guideline.

 

Once a student listens to the directions, they can begin the next step, which starts to involve deliberate thought.

 

Think

Once listening has taken place, kids must then think about what the given directions mean. The best way to do this is through the power of imagination! When thinking about instructions, we encourage our students to create a mental picture of them following the directions in their heads. For example, if the instructions are to do 5 jumping jacks, students should imagine themselves performing the drill in their mind. Once they have the mental image, they should use that to guide them during the “do” stage.

 

For instructions that are multi-step, layered, or ambiguous, we recommend that kids learn how to create an “action plan.” An action plan involves creating a mental checklist of all the things that need to get done in order to complete the task properly and efficiently. For instance, if they are instructed to clean their room, kids should first create the mental image of them performing the task, and then list all the steps mentally. They should think, first I have to clear all the clutter from my desk, then I have to empty the trash can, and finally I have to put everything back where it belongs. Similar to the mental picture, the action plan will assist children as they start to do the task.

 

Thinking is perhaps the most crucial of these three steps. The thinking phase actually begins while the students are listening, as they try to visualize themselves completing the instructions. It is imperative that the directions are thoroughly thought about, and that no steps are missed. Furthermore, thinking does not stop once the doing starts. Once the task is initiated, it is important to remind kids to keep thinking about the instructions. Have them constantly go back to their mental image and/or action plan. If thinking stops during the final stage, we go into “autopilot” mode, where our bodies move without focused thought. An example of autopilot is when students are told to do 5 jumping jacks, but end up counting to 10 instead. Thinking about the instructions must constantly take place to avoid going on “autopilot.”

 

Do

Finally, the process ends with the doing phase. During this stage, students actually carry out the instructions that were given to them. One thing to remember during this phase is to act quickly, but properly. When instructions are given, students should aim to start them as quickly as possible. During classes, students are encouraged to start drills as soon as the instructions are done being given, or after the instructor says “go!”

 

Like we mentioned before, students should keep their mental picture and action plans in mind as they are completing whatever the task is. Doing so will ensure that kids complete the instructions accurately, and to the best of their abilities!

 

Finally, it is important to finish all instructions thoroughly before completing the task. Children should be advised not to stop halfway through doing something. We always encourage our students to finish tasks before moving on to others, that way everything gets done accurately and on time.

 

In Our Classes…

In classes this week, we will be reminding our students to be first time listeners everywhere they go, not just in karate class. Whether they are at home, in school, or even Disney World, they should always be good listeners. For our younger students, we will go over the 3 steps to listening: Listen, Think, and Do. For our older students, we will go over the importance of focus in listening, and why they need to pay attention in order to be a good listener. During warmups, we will encourage our students to be good listeners by creating mental images and action plans, and acting right away!

 

In Conclusion

Listening is an essential skill for everyone, and will help our students succeed in all aspects of life. Following the 3 steps will allow our students to focus on instructions, and complete tasks quickly and accurately, the first time they are told. Remember, listening is a skill that can and should be practiced, for all children. Whether they struggle with listening skills or excel at following directions, there is always a way to improve and get better at listening. Our goal is to create the best listeners that parents, school teachers, and our instructors will notice and recognize!

 

What other things should kids do to listen better?

 

How do you practice listening with your kids at home?