Does it ever seem that you and your child are talking different languages or not talking at all? You may find these tips on how to teach your child to communicate to be helpful in bridging the communication gap and developing a closer relationship.
5 Tips for Getting Your Child to Communicate
- Chat with your child. If communicating has been lacking in your relationship, chatting with your child is a good way to start again. Making small talk, without being critical, creates a non-threatening environment for kids to express themselves.
- Remember that a child’s behavior is sometimes their language. However, it’s best to ask rather than assume what they are trying to say non-verbally.
- Eating is a social activity that can create a positive environment and time to your child about their day. Establish this habit early in your family.
- Set a time for one-on-one time with each child and make it a special time alone with each parent. Since each child-parent relationship is unique, it a great opportunity to grow relationships.
- Be sure to engage in equal sharing time versus probing into the child’s thoughts and feelings. Reciprocity builds intimacy and trust.
Start small with just one of these tips. Try it for at least 1 month and then experiment by adding another tip. Communication is the life skill used to build relationships. Practice perfects life skills.
Additional Resources:
- For Parents Only: Getting Inside the Head of Your Kid by Shaunti Feldhahn, Lisa A. Rice
- Reaching Teens in Their Natural Habitat: A Field Guide for Savvy Parents, Danny Holland
- The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman
- Confident Parenting by Jim Burns
- Parenting today’s Adolescents by Dennis Rainey
- What’s Happening to my Teen by Mark Gregston