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The Rain Game: Teaching Children Listening Skills

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How to teach kids about listening skills with the "rain game"

Listening is a skill.  We are born to listen (remember how beautifully babies stare up and listen to your voice?) however it seems as we grow up and more thoughts enter our heads, we have to learn to balance thinking and listening.  If you have ever tried to explain something to a child who only wants to tell you about their latest make-believe game, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

Even as adults we have the power of choosing when we are going to listen.  To our children, to our own thoughts, to what other people are saying, or to the noise around us.  There is a lot to choose from, and intentionally deciding what to listen to and when is an important habit to create (namely, for our children, listening to the adults who are giving instructions for their own good and safety).  Here is a simple game to introduce these concepts and show what can happen when we do listen and follow directions.

This is a great Group Activity – it requires little or no materials and would be suitable for more than a couple kids, perfect for the classroom as well.  At least two children is probably best for the activity.

We sat in a circle and I asked the boys to listen to my instructions because we were going to “make” something together.  They were intrigued and watched attentively as I gave the first direction: “Rub your fingers together.”

After we were doing the same motion together for 10 seconds or so, I gave a new instruction.  The order was: rub your hands together, snap your fingers (they have fun trying to copy this one), clap softly, clap loudly, pat your chest, pat your legs, stomp your feet, stomp and clap at the same time, add “crashing” noises with your mouth.

We got to the standing up with the stomping and clapping and crashing, and then I started to go backwards, taking the noises away one by one until we were back to rubbing fingers together.

After coming back to quiet again, they were very excited about the experience.  We had made a rainstorm!  I said they had done a great job listening to my instructions and that by doing so, we did something really fun and exciting together.  If they had not listened, we would not have been able to successfully create a rainstorm together.  I was happy to oblige their requests to do it again, and repeat at bedtime as well.  I gave the boys turns being the “leader” as well.

In this simple game I wanted to introduce the idea of listening to instructions and obeying so that we arrive at a desired result.  (I gave a few examples of following directions mommy gives, as well.)  It was a short and sweet conversation after the activity, but I think it helped clarify the importance of listening.  Also this is a super simple activity we can do again to help reconsider the ideas at a later date.

Do you have any tricks for helping your children learn the importance of listening?

If you liked this game, you may also like to check out my ebook Playing with Purpose: Character Building Made Fun with over 100 activities to teach kids about positive character traits.

Over 100 activities to teach kids about positive character traits

You may also enjoy…

10 Activities to Help Young Children Develop a Positive Attitude

4 Playful Activities to Help Children Develop Assertiveness

4 Fun Ways to Teach Children about Telling the Truth

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Filed Under: Blog, Character Building Activities, Group Activities Tagged With: Obedience, Respect

About Chelsea Lee Smith

Author, certified parent educator, and mother of three with a background in Communications and Counselling, Chelsea provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Follow her @momentsaday on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Nae

    June 19, 2013 at 8:04 am

    So wonderful to have a fun experience for them that encourages such an important skill. I’ve been struggling with dimples not listening so this is something easy I can do that will praise his ability to listen well 🙂 thanks

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 19, 2013 at 8:15 am

      Awesome Nae I hope you two enjoy the activity! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      Reply
  2. Nathalie Brown

    June 19, 2013 at 4:51 pm

    Listening such an intrinsic part of two way communication, great game for younger kids 🙂

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 20, 2013 at 5:40 am

      Thanks Nathalie!! Something we can all work on too – I know I can 🙂

      Reply
  3. Debs

    June 19, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    That sounds like a fun listening game.. a skill that we need to practice here more as well, haha. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 20, 2013 at 5:32 am

      Thanks Debs, yes I think listening will be something to work on forever! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jode@mummymusingsandmayhem

    June 19, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Loved this post…it is a skill i am concentrating on at the moment with both of my twins and never thought to turn it into a game…such creative thinking! Thankyou for sharing.

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 20, 2013 at 5:32 am

      Thanks for the comment, I hope you all enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kate L

    June 21, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    These simple games are so important and should be done at an early age. Children can listen and this game will help highlight that fact to kids and parents. Love it and look forward to seeing more of your ideas.

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 21, 2013 at 1:25 pm

      Thanks for the comment Kate!

      Reply
  6. Anna @ kids' play space

    June 22, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    What a lovely activity Chelsea:-) mental note taken!! Will be pinning:-)

    Reply
    • Chelsea

      June 22, 2013 at 9:28 pm

      Thanks Anna! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Daisy Frye

    November 20, 2013 at 9:56 am

    Now that I signed up for the newsletters how do I download the free e-book?

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      November 20, 2013 at 10:49 am

      Hi Daisy you should receive an email following up your subscription to the newsletter with the link to download the ebook. Let me know if you have any trouble!

      Reply
  8. Stacy

    July 10, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    hi chelsea,
    I had a 2 and half year old boy whom teacher say he start to ignore them when they call him. And he tends to loose focus in class and disturb frens as well. By playing the rain game will it help him listen and obey more in school? Perhaps he listen at home but once he get to school maybe he will be back to his misbehavior?

    Reply
  9. khuzaimah

    January 16, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    hi chelsea,
    I’m a mother and also a teacher.I really enjoy this game with my children in school..thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Judy baggett

      July 27, 2016 at 8:35 pm

      My husband and I teach the children at church and we are trying to teach them to listen. We will try this. Thankyou

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Listening Activities for 2 Year Olds says:
    August 10, 2016 at 4:38 am

    […] 16. The Rain Game […]

    Reply
  2. And they begged, “Just one more story, please!” – – Strands in the Weave of My Thoughts says:
    February 2, 2019 at 2:18 am

    […] as social beings, are primed to listen, right from childhood. Very young kids pick up cues and nuances of language, even though they […]

    Reply

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Chelsea Lee Smith is an author, certified parent educator, and mother of three children with a background in Communications and Counselling. She provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Browse the shop and blog categories to find practical inspiration for family life including tips, activities, printable pages, and resource recommendations.

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