A Note from Mr. Meyers
Habit 5—seek First to Understand, then to Be Understood • Listen Before You talk
My wife and I have nicknames for our kids. We named Christopher, age one, “Scream” because that’s what he does. When he doesn’t get her way or feels ignored, he screams. Loud! It is his way of getting attention. As adults, we may not scream, but we act out in other ways when we don’t feel that anyone is listening. For sure, the deepest need of the human heart is to be understood.
In school we’re taught how to read, write, and speak. But we’re not taught how to listen, which is the most important communication skill of all. Listening with our ears isn’t good enough, because less than 10 percent of communication is contained in the words we use. The rest comes from body language and the tone and feeling reflected in our voice. What a great blessing it would be if we could teach our kids how to listen while they’re young! Use this story to point out how Jumper learned to listen, not only with his ears but also with his eyes and his heart—and as a result, everyone was happier.
After Watching:
1. What did Jumper do when Goob told him he was sad and didn’t want to play?
2. How did Allie feel when Jumper couldn’t understand her? How do you feel when
no one understands you?
3. Who helped Allie solve her problem? What did Lily Skunk say to Jumper about
listening?
4. Who was happy at the end of the story? Why is listening so important?
