Asking yes or no questions can help to assess whether or not your child is listening to what you say. Ask simple questions, such as "Does a dog bark?" or "Is the sky blue?" so you can focus on the listening skills of the child. State each question in a slow but steady voice one time only. Remind the child to use her "listening ears" if she does not respond appropriately to the questions you are asking.
This game is a great way to assess the receptive language skills of your child. Explain to the child that he needs to wait until "Simon" (or whatever name you choose) tells him to do something. Enlist the help of other children, allowing them to be "Simon" for a short period of time. Children who perform the activities correctly demonstrate the ability to use receptive language. Children who are unable to follow the simple instructions will need further assistance in developing better receptive language skills.
Read the children a short story, no more than five minutes in length. Ask simple questions about the story to assess whether or not the children were listening and can remember details about what you have told them. Have the children retell the story in their own words as another way to assess the receptive language skills they possess.
The telephone game is a classic way to assess the receptive language skills of children. Sit the children in a line and whisper a short phrase into the first child's ear. State the phrase one time. Have the child repeat the phrase to the child next to him by whispering in his ear one time only. Continue in this fashion until all the children have been told the phrase one time only. Allow the last child to repeat the phrase as it was stated to her for the class to hear. This will assess how well the children are listening, as well as how well they are speaking to their peers.