Attention and listening skills are very important for children to be able to make sense of words they hear and to respond to others.

Children have to learn to pay attention first to people, then to objects, then to people and objects. Children need to develop good attention and listening so they can learn new skills including how to use language successfully.

Children may hear what you say but not really listen to it – they need to think about what has been said, and with practice, begin to make sense of it.