What steps can you take as a parent to better communicate with your child?
• Maintain eye contact, let your child know you are listening and put down devices.
• Listen with compassion and try not to fix or give advice while child is sharing.
• Explain your sentiments so that your child can learn to recognize and comprehend his or her own feelings
• Adopt a positive tone of voice
• Contemplate what you are going to say before you say it
• Be open and honest about how you feel
• Your method should be thoughtful and considerate. Your child can pull away from you if you put an excessive amount of pressure.
• It is appropriate to maintain silence for a little while. Learn to be comfortable being alone.
• Make it clear to your kid that you are there for them whenever they are ready to talk to you.
Try to avoid doing any of the following:
• Do not lecture your child, be mindful of your tone and how many times your say the same thing?
• Do not get into a power battle with your child.
• Do not raise your voice or seem threatening. Parents can forget how big an loud they can be to a small child.
• Do not blame, humiliate, or isolate your child. Time outs should be age appropriate
How does your child's personality impact how they communicate at school or at home.
• Every child and family is special in their own way. Get an understanding of your child's personality and the ways in which they prefer to communicate.
• Does your child communicate mostly verbally or nonverbally?Do you understand the nonverbal message that your child is attempting to convey to you?
• Is your child or teenager able to communicate both their thoughts and feelings to you?
• Would you describe your child as being more shy in social groups or more of a leader?
• How tough or easy is it to have a conversation with your child?
Strategies for improving communication between a parent and their children.
• Praise your child for the behavior you want to see more of.
• When your communication is not working, stop, pause, and try again later. When your own limits or boundaries are being crossed, know when to walk away.
• Role model positive communication and behaviors.
• Ask your child if they understand what you are trying to said and asking them to do.
• Listen to your child with respect, even if you disagree with them.
• Encourage communication through play and have fun together
• For your older child, find a non-threatening place to talk, such as in the car.
• When your communication is not working, stop, pause
• Have a meal together this allows time for organic conversation.
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