Listening Ladder Game

Objective:
Help participants practice and deepen active listening skills by role-playing real-life family scenarios, moving up the Listening Ladder from simply hearing words to truly empathizing with each other.

Players:
Pairs within a small group (4–6 participants total)

Materials:

• Scenario cards (6–8 family dialogue prompts)
• Talking object (e.g., small ball or plush)
• Timer or stopwatch

Setup:

1. Prepare and shuffle the scenario cards; place them face down in the center.
2. Arrange participants in pairs, facing each other, with a talking object and timer available.
3. Decide who begins as Speaker and who begins as Listener.

Game Instructions:

1. Start at Level 1 (Hearing Words). Draw the top scenario card.
2. Speaker reads the scenario aloud and describes their perspective for 30 seconds.
3. Listener practices the Level 1 skill (see Rungs below) and then shares back what they heard.
4. Switch roles and repeat Level 1 with a new scenario card.
5. After both partners practice Level 1, move up to Level 2. Draw fresh scenario cards for each role-play.
6. Continue climbing through Level 3 and Level 4, ensuring each participant practices each rung with a different scenario.
7. Aim for ~2 minutes per role-play. Use the timer to keep on track.

Rungs of the Listening Ladder:

1. Hearing Words: Focus on the speaker’s exact words; repeat key phrases back.
2. Understanding Meaning: Paraphrase the speaker’s message in your own words.
3. Reflecting Feelings: Identify and state the speaker’s emotions behind their words.
4. Empathizing Experience: Connect to how the speaker feels and express genuine empathy.

Scenario Cards:

• Your caregiver says: “I’m worried about how much time you spend on your phone.”
• You want to share with your parent that you feel overwhelmed by your math homework.
• Your sibling is upset because they feel left out when you spend time with friends.
• Your parent congratulates you on your recent project and asks how you felt about doing it.
• Your caregiver is upset because you came home later than promised.
• You overheard your parents talking about financial stress and feel anxious.

Debrief (Group Discussion):

• Which listening rung was most challenging and why?
• How did each level change the quality of your listening?
• Which Listening Ladder skill will you practice first at home?

Feelings Circle Discussion Guide

Purpose

Help students and caregivers practice sharing feelings in a respectful, emotionally safe environment, while strengthening reflective listening and validation skills.

Materials

• Talking object (e.g., small ball, plush toy)
• Sticky notes and markers
• A timer (optional)

Discussion Norms (Establish at the start)

• Respect confidentiality: What’s shared here stays here.
• One voice at a time: Only the person holding the talking object speaks.
• Listen without interrupting or judging.
• Share only what feels comfortable.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Introduce the Activity (2 minutes)

• Gather in a circle so everyone can see each other.
• Explain the talking object: only speakers hold it; it travels around the circle.
• Remind the group of the norms above.

2. Demonstrate with a Volunteer (2 minutes)

• Facilitator models: “I feel nervous when I have to speak in class.”
• Hold up the talking object, then pass it to the volunteer to practice back.
• Volunteer repeats the prompt and facilitator reflects: “It sounds like you feel nervous when you speak in front of others.”

3. Sharing Round (8 minutes)

• Prompt: “I feel ______ when ______.”
• Give each person ~30 seconds to speak while holding the object.
• After each share, one listener practices reflective listening:
  • “I heard you say….”
  • “It sounds like you felt….”
• Rotate the talking object clockwise until everyone has spoken and been reflected to once.

4. Validation with Sticky Notes (5 minutes)

• After the circle, distribute sticky notes.
• Ask each participant to write one validation or encouraging phrase for someone else in the circle (e.g., “I appreciate your honesty,” “Thank you for sharing”).
• Place notes in the center; then let families read notes and discuss how it felt to receive them.

5. Group Debrief (5 minutes)

Use these questions to guide reflection:

• How did it feel to share your feeling and have someone reflect back?
• What was challenging about holding back advice and just listening?
• Which part of reflective listening helped you feel most understood?

Follow-Up at Home

• Schedule a weekly “Feelings Circle” check-in using the same prompt and object.
• Encourage listeners to practice at least one validation statement each time.
• Keep reflections brief and focused: aim for safety over length.

Adaptations & Tips

• For quieter participants, allow them to write and place a note instead of speaking aloud.
• Use emotion cards (happy, sad, anxious, excited) for students who need visual cues.
• If time is short, limit to one or two sharing rounds.

By following this guide, families will build trust and confidence in expressing and hearing each other’s feelings—laying a foundation for emotionally safe communication at home.