As adults, we often reflect on the skills we wish we had developed earlier in life, skills that might have made learning and growth feel more natural and effortless. Among these, communication stands out as a fundamental skill critical for success in academic, professional, and personal spheres.
The ability to communicate effectively and clearly is indispensable in today’s world. While some people seem to possess a natural flair for communication, for many, it’s a skill honed through conscious effort and practice. Childhood and adolescence are ideal times to cultivate this ability, as young minds are exceptionally adaptive and open to learning.
In this article, we share a few engaging and practical ways parents can help their children develop strong communication skills.
Fishbowl: A Fun Family Game
Fishbowl is a simple, engaging, and interactive game that the whole family can enjoy. It helps children practice different styles of communication in a playful and stress-free environment.
How to Play:
Preparation: Divide the players into two teams. Each participant writes three words on pieces of paper, folds them, and places them in a bowl.
Round 1 – Full Sentences: A player has 60 seconds to describe words drawn from the bowl using full sentences (no gestures or sounds allowed). The team guesses the word, keeping all correct guesses. Teams take turns until all words are guessed.
Round 2 – One Word Only: Place all the papers back in the bowl. This time, players can only use one word to describe each term. This encourages associative thinking and concise communication.
Round 3 – Gestures and Sounds: In this round, words can only be explained using movements or sounds, reinforcing the connection between verbal and non-verbal communication.
Learning a New Language
Encouraging your child to learn another language is an excellent way to boost their communication skills. A new language challenges them to express themselves with limited vocabulary and simple sentence structures, promoting clarity and creativity in communication. Over time, the practice of speaking in multiple languages enhances confidence and adaptability in conversations.
New Environments
Introducing your child to new social settings is a natural way to improve their communication skills. Joining a club, playing a team sport, or attending a summer camp exposes them to new people, encouraging them to adapt and connect through meaningful conversations.
Attending a summer school, especially in a foreign language, can significantly enhance your child’s communication skills. This experience can boost their confidence, helping them become more expressive and articulate. If you're looking for a summer camp that suits your needs, feel free to reach out to us.
Theatre
Participating in a theatre group offers a unique opportunity to enhance communication skills. Beyond gaining confidence in public speaking, theatre teaches children to use their voice and body to express emotions effectively. It also deepens their understanding of human interactions, enabling them to navigate social dynamics with greater ease.
Lead a Conversation Club:
An engaging way for your child to practice clear and adaptable communication is by leading a conversation club for non-native speakers. For example, if your child’s mother tongue is German, they can organize conversations with students learning German. This activity will teach your child how to adjust their vocabulary, tone, and topics based on the needs and skill levels of their audience. It’s an excellent opportunity to develop both leadership and communication skills while helping others improve their language abilities.
Join a Debate Club:
Another fantastic option is joining a debate club. In a debate setting, children learn to construct arguments, research evidence, and present their views in a concise and logical manner. Debating also enhances active listening, as participants must respond thoughtfully to opposing points. Over time, this activity builds confidence in public speaking and teaches effective ways to articulate complex ideas.
Stand Up Against Fillers
Many people unconsciously use words like “um,” “uh,” “like,” “so,” or “right” to fill moments of silence in conversation. This habit often stems from feeling uncomfortable with pauses. A simple and fun activity can help break this habit and encourage more mindful communication.
Here’s how it works: Gather a group of friends or family members. Each person takes turns speaking on a simple topic for 1-3 minutes (the topic itself isn’t important, as long as it’s easy to talk about). Whenever the speaker uses a filler word, the rest of the group stands up as a playful way to signal it.
This immediate, visual feedback makes the speaker more aware of their speech patterns and encourages them to pause and think rather than relying on filler words. Over time, this activity builds the habit of using more deliberate and precise language, whether in casual conversations or public speaking settings.
Presentation
Here’s another fun and engaging activity that can help boost your child’s communication skills: giving short presentations. It’s simple and works well as a family game. Pick topics for one another, or let everyone choose their own, and prepare a 5-10 minute presentation. To keep the activity fun and engaging, choose lighthearted or intriguing topics—such as recapping the latest episode of a TV show, explaining slang words, or debating which family member would survive a zombie apocalypse and why.
The goal is to give your child an opportunity to practice public speaking in a relaxed and enjoyable way. This will naturally improve their ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently.
For an extra challenge, try setting a time limit of just 15 minutes for preparation. This will encourage quick thinking and adaptability—both essential skills for effective communication!