Active listening builds empathy. It involves paying full attention to the speaker and understanding their views, experiences, and background. Young children have a difficult time with active listening, especially during a group activity. A talking piece such as a stuffed animal or small object can help children see who is talking and remind them to look at the person with the talking piece. You can teach children that when they have the talking piece, it is their turn to talk and when someone else has the talking piece, their job is to listen.