How Do I Help My Child Listen?

Teaching Auditory Processing without Losing Your Minds

Timberdoodle packs its kits with hands-on components, making them perfect for families with kinesthetic learners.

But sometimes, you hit a snag — mainly when your science or history lessons rely heavily on listening.

For some kids, listening is easy. For others, staying focused for even a few minutes is tough. Is this worth working on? Absolutely! As your child gets older, the ability to listen and process spoken information becomes more critical — in conversations, lectures, and throughout everyday life.

If your child struggles, remember:

• He’s not alone! Elementary students are naturally wiggly.
• Your child will revisit these academic subjects later, so mastering them now isn’t necessary.
• Some lessons target older students, but with practice, younger kids can understand more than you might expect.

Practical Tips:

• Let him color or doodle while listening.
• Provide fidgets, Plus-Plus, or small building toys to keep his hands busy.
• Try reading during lunch or while he’s on a wobble stool or swing.
• Audiobooks can work, too!
• Start small — read just one paragraph, then ask your child what happened. If he can answer, set the book aside and switch to a hands-on activity. Later, return to the next paragraph and repeat the process. If he has trouble answering, reread the section and give him another chance. As his listening skills improve, gradually increase the number of paragraphs you read before stopping to check his understanding.

This simple approach actively builds auditory processing skills crucial for lifelong learning.

If focus continues to be a struggle, talk to your pediatrician to rule out any hearing, processing, or sensory issues. Some kids will always be a bit wiggly — and that’s fine. Your goal is to help your child learn in the best way for him, and homeschooling makes that possible!