Model proper active listening techniques to the child. This includes making eye contact when the child is speaking, not interrupting the child when he speaks and repeating back portions of what the child has said to you in your responses. Demonstrating how to actively listen to the child will help him learn and display active listening techniques more easily.
Read to your child and ask her questions about the book. Relate the questions to the sequence actions within the book or ask the child to predict what will happen next. These strategies force the child to listen while the story is being read.
Provide multiple step instructions to the child and ask her to repeat the instructions back to you. For example, "I would like you to pick up the books, put away the blanket and wash your hands." The child needs to repeat the instructions back to you in order. Let the child have time to reply and do not berate the child if she does not get all the instructions right.
Create and tell a story to each other, alternating parts. For example, the adult starts with one sentence such as, "Once upon a time there was a frog named Toby," and the child then must tell a sentence about Toby. Each of you must listen to each other to have the story make sense.
Play listening games together. A classical listening game is "Simon Says." When the caller says "Simon says," followed by a direction, all players must follow that direction. If a direction is given without saying "Simon says," and a player completes the action, he is out.