It is so important for children to be able to clearly communicate their thoughts, feelings, wants, and needs. Like building any skill, this kind of communication takes time, patience, modeling, and the right environment to blossom into something that comes naturally. As a parent, it can be quite overwhelming to research the best ways to help your kids build communication skills, and it can become quite expensive if you choose to sign them up for multiple social activities. So, for parents with minimal budget and/or time, here is a short guide to a few fun (and free / inexpensive) activities that are sure to help kids build incredible communication skills.
Playing cooperative board games or role playing games
Regularly playing board games like Outfoxed! and role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (or Dungeons & Kittens, specifically for younger people) are fantastic ways to build communication, cooperation, and critical thinking skills…all while having a blast! Games like D&D prompt kids to use their imagination and work together toward a common goal, as well as holding story-telling elements with the possibility to introduce many emotional and social themes like empathy, morality, justice, and equality.
You may be lucky enough to live in an area where your local library or another community group hosts free board game or RPG sessions for kids, but if not, you can always check out your local op shop to see if you can find any for a discount price to play at home. For most role playing games, you can find the basic downloadable resources you need online (often for free), as well as video tutorials on YouTube…all it takes is a little time to read through the playbooks and some imagination to get started!
Volunteering or fundraising for a local charity
Human beings are communal creatures! We learn by being around others and getting involved in activities that centre around working together to achieve a shared goal. Volunteering, fundraising, or joining other community-based efforts are perfect ways for kids to build robust communication and cooperation skills, as well as a strong sense of empathy and kindness.
As a parent, you can support your kids and teens to research local charities and help them run fundraisers for causes they feel connected to. If your children are passionate about helping other kids, they may even want to host a ProjectKindness fundraiser. We’ve had schools run bake sales and milkshake stands in the past and we are open to any and all chances for our community members (especially our youngest) to help support our Kindness Recipients. Send an email to bekind@projectkindness.com.au if you’d like to discuss this with us and we’ll help you and your kids get started.
Attending Read & Rhyme or similar sessions at your local library
For younger kids, building communication skills starts first at home, and then by getting out and about into playful settings with other kids doing age appropriate activities. If your local library hosts Read & Rhyme or Music Time sessions, these are perfect for giving babies and toddlers some exposure to their peers and building those foundational communication skills.
These sessions are also great opportunities for parents to mingle and make friends with other adults, building their own communication skills in the process (we’re all just continually learning after all, even as adults).
