Habit 5

“We have but two ears and one mouth so that we may

listen twice as much as we speak.”

~Thomas Edison

Habit of the Month:

Seek First to Understand, Then to Be

Understood

Too often instead of really listening, we are busy forming our

response in our mind. This Habit is about not

just hearing with our ears, but looking at body

language with our eyes, and using our hearts as

well. We listen to understand who that person

is, how they feel about something, and how they

view the world.

Book Suggestion:

Charlotte’s Web

By: E.B. White

Story Time

Read the story above or another and discuss the lesson that was learned.

We did it!

Talk Time

Practice using the suggested language sentence stems with your child.

We did it!

Family Time

Everyone can take a turn during dinner sharing with the family what they did that day.

We did it!

Work Time

For ten minutes, do not talk. Just listen to what others are saying. Write about what you heard in a journal.

We did it

Play Time

Give your children a chance to choose a fun activity you can do together.

We did it!

Suggested Language to Use with Your Child:

‘So if I understand, you are saying _______________.”

“Excuse me, (child’s name). Are you listening or pretend listening?”

“What does your heart think she meant when she said that?”