Effective Communication Skills

I am certain most parents think that communicating with their kids can be a formidable task at times. We often come to the conclusion they’re not listening to us; they often come to the conclusion we’re not listening to them.

It is certainly true that good listening and communications expertise are an essential key to successful parenting. Your child’s feelings,opinions and views are very important. You have to make sure you take the time to openly and honestly listen and discuss.

Generally there is a tendency to react rather than to respond. We make a decision founded on our own experiences

Nevertheless, responding means being receptive to our child’s feelings and emotions and allowing them to articulate themselves openly and honestly without a fear of backlash from us.

By reacting we can convey our child the idea that their opinions and feelings are baseless or wrong.

However if you respond and ask question why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that gives them the opportunity to discuss their opinions and feelings further, and gives you a far better sense of where they’re coming from.

Responding can also give you a chance to figure out a solution or a plan of action with your daughter or son that they might not have come up with on their own.

Your child will also appreciate the fact that perhaps you do indeed understand how they feel.

It’s crucial in these situations to give your child your complete and undivided focus. Put down reading your book, stop loading up the dishwasher, or switch off the tv so you can clearly hear the full situation and make eye contact with your Keep calm, , and afterwards come forward with possible solutions to the area of concern.

It is not a good idea to discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated. Our first feeling is usually to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental approach. Once again, listen to your child, ask questions to uncover why they are feeling the way they are, and then present possible actions to ease the bad perception.

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience painful situations. By actively listening and sharing with our offspring as they talk about it, it displays to them that we do care, we really want to help and we have much the same experiences of our own that they can draw from. Always remember, respond - don’t react.

If, for years you have been reacting not responding it may take some time to turn things around so that you are spontaneously responding. Do keep trying and do not give up. It will be worth it. After all a good parent – child relationship is priceless. That is most definitely a goal you want to accomplish.

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