Module 2- Worksheet 1: The Active Listening Toolkit (Gordon’s Method)
Goal: To practice recognizing Communication Roadblocks and responding with Active Listening.
Part 1: Spot the Roadblock
Read the child’s statement and the parent’s response. Identify which Communication Roadblock the parent is using. (Examples: Ordering, Warning, Advising, Criticizing, Reassuring, Distracting)
Child: “I’m never going to be good at football. I missed every shot today.”
- Parent’s Response: “Don’t be so negative! You just need to practice more. I’ll sign you up for extra lessons.”
- Roadblock: ______________________ (Advising/Giving Solutions
Child: “Mia said she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore.”
- Parent’s Response: “Oh, don’t worry about it, honey. You have lots of other friends. You’ll forget all about it by tomorrow.”
- Roadblock: ______________________ (Reassuring/Consoling)
Child: “I hate my homework! It’s boring and stupid.”
- Parent’s Response: “Stop complaining. You have to do it, so get it done right now or you’re not watching any TV.”
- Roadblock: ______________________ (Ordering/Commanding)
Part 2: Build a Bridge with Active Listening
Read the child’s statement. Instead of using a roadblock, write a response that uses Active Listening. Try to “mirror” or reflect the feeling you hear behind the words.
- Your Goal: To make your child feel heard, not to solve their problem for them.
- Helpful starters: “It sounds like you feel…”, “It seems like you’re feeling really…”, “So you’re feeling…”
Child: “Nobody played with me at the park today. I just sat on the bench by myself.”
- Your Active Listening Response: ______________________________________________________________________ (Example: “It sounds like you felt really lonely and left out at the park today.”)
Child (slamming the door): “I’m never talking to Leo again! He’s the worst brother ever!”
- Your Active Listening Response: ______________________________________________________________________ (Example: “Wow, you sound incredibly angry and hurt by something Leo did.”)
Child (quietly): “I don’t think I want to go to the party on Saturday.”
- Your Active Listening Response: ______________________________________________________________________ (Example: “It seems like you might be feeling a little nervous or unsure about the party.”)