Teachers, school counsellors, youth workers and parents supporting children and teenagers may find this active listening PDF useful for introducing respectful communication in a clear, visual way. It focuses on what good listening looks like, what can get in the way, and the kinds of words that help someone feel heard rather than dismissed.
In classrooms, counselling rooms, youth groups or family conversations, the posters can be used as a quick reference for practising active listening skills. The first poster explains that listening is not about having the perfect response, but about helping another person feel heard, understood and respected.
The main page sets out two side-by-side lists: what active listening is and what active listening is not. It covers giving full attention, listening to understand, letting someone finish, noticing words, tone and body language, asking genuine questions, checking understanding, accepting feelings, being patient, and helping someone feel respected.
The same poster also names common unhelpful habits, such as interrupting, waiting for your turn to talk, looking at a phone, giving unwanted advice, making the conversation about yourself, judging, rushing to fix things, assuming you already know what someone means, or pretending to listen.
A second page gives practical sentence starters and phrases for children, teens and adults to try, including “Tell me more”, “That sounds really tough”, “How did that make you feel?”, “So you felt…” and “Thanks for telling me”. It also highlights phrases to avoid, such as “Just get over it”, “You are being dramatic” and “That is not a big deal”.
The visual layout makes it suitable as a printable communication skills poster, a social emotional learning prompt, a counselling handout, or a discussion tool for PSHE, pastoral support, restorative conversations and wellbeing work with young people.
