Tips To Improve Communication Between Parents And Children
Knowing how to listen and speak is the key to any healthy relationship, also between you and your children. But being a parent is hard work and maintaining good communication with your children, especially during adolescence, can be quite a challenge.
An added difficulty is that parents have to balance their work life with family time, which means that most of the time they cannot dedicate all the time they would like to caring for the relationship they have with their children. In today’s article We explain a series of tips based on mutual respect that will help make communication between you and your children more fluid and beneficial for both
2. Let your children know that you are listening to them
Express interest in what they are explaining to you, avoiding being too intrusive They must feel that the interest you show is real and not something feigned to get information from them.
Listen to their point of view, even if it is difficult for you to understand or you do not fully share it Each person has a different way of thinking, including your children, and that doesn’t mean it isn’t just as valid as yours.
Let them finish speaking before responding Don’t cut them off in the middle of an explanation, no one likes to be interrupted while they are talking.
Repeat what you just heard to make sure you understood it correctly Communication is not always clear and simple, and many arguments between parents and children are generated by misunderstandings in the conversations.
3. Respond in a way that your children will listen to you
Softens overreactions ; Your children will stop paying attention to you if you seem angry or defensive. Although it is sometimes difficult to achieve, try to remain calm and speak to them in a neutral tone. Improving communication with children also involves creating a context conducive to dialogue.
Avoid arguing about who is right If each person only thinks that he or she is right, neither of them will tend to listen to the other’s reasons and a consensus will not be able to be reached. Instead say, “I know you don’t agree with me, but that’s what I think.” Express your opinion without belittling that of your children; accept that there is nothing wrong with disagreeing about something.
Focus on your children’s feelings instead of yourself during the conversation Sometimes it can be difficult for them to express what they feel and they need you to be empathetic with them, to put yourself in their shoes and understand them.
Final tips to improve communication with your children
Lastly, some tricks to improve and encourage communication between parents and children:
1. Ask your children what they will want or what they need from you in a conversation: advice, simply listen to them, help them deal with their feelings or give them help to solve a problem.
2. Children learn by imitation They will often follow your lead in how you manage anger, how you solve problems, and how you deal with complicated situations and feelings. Try to be the best version of yourself for them, become a role model in the face of difficulties.
3. Just talk to your kids ; Don’t give them a monologue, don’t criticize them, threaten them or say hurtful things to them.
4. Children learn from their own decisions Unless your actions could have dangerous consequences, don’t feel like you always have to intervene.
5. Keep in mind that your children can test you by telling you only a small part of what worries them Listen carefully and encourage them to continue talking so they can finish explaining the rest of the story.
6. When giving information, try to give it in a positive way It is also important to give consistent messages, avoid contradictions and express yourself clearly when asking for something, to avoid possible confusion that could end in conflicts.
7. Always try to obey the rule that “Everything that is said, comes true”, or what is the same, do not promise in vain; It is important to keep the promises you make to your children, otherwise it could affect the trust they place in you. For the same reason, lies must also be avoided.
8. Whenever possible, ask your children’s opinions on issues that affect the family This will make them feel like they are part of the family unit and that their point of view is important to you.
