Play a game with the children. Tell the kids to stand up and talk, then sit down and be quiet. Repeat this sequence three times with five seconds in between each period. Move on to 10 seconds, then 15 seconds. The child who is the most obedient at the end wins a prize.
Use storytelling to engage the kids' attention and help them practice listening skills. Hold a doll or action figure and start telling a story while the children are listening. Then let a child hold the doll or action figure and listen to her as she tells the story. Have the children take turns holding the doll and narrating a story. Show the children that you are listening by quietly paying attention while each child talks. Remember to make the stories fun.
Read aloud. Reading to a child is one of the most fundamental and effective ways to help him improve his listening skills. Get an amusing picture book that the child will love and get his attention by acting out the story. At the end of each page, ask him simple questions about what you just read to test whether he was listening.