Active Listening is different than just listening to a child or person.
Active Listening is: •Dynamic- Constant Flow of Information •Intense- Requires Mental Focus •Continous- On-going Training Active Listening requires an internal desire to truly want to understand what the other person is trying to communicate.
It is defined by the act of engaging all mental, physical, and spiritual energy to hear with your heart what the other person is saying.
For example, always using eye contact or turning off noisy distractions when a person is talking to you.
How does it feel when you're talking to someone and they aren't looking you in eyes? Do you feel they are listening? How about when your favorite TV show or radio program is on and child asks you a question, do you turn it off? This is my favorite, how about your cell phone, do you answer it when your child is talking to you? Can you not pick up your phone if it rings when someone is talking to you? Active listening requires what we call a sacrifice of "self".
What this means is making a continuous and conscious effort to not let anything or anyone come between you and the other person while they are talking.
It means listening because you believe that the person your talking to is special, listening because you care, and listening because you want to hear what the other person is saying.
Did you know that the need for one's parents or spouse to listen is never outgrown?