How To Listen So Kids Will Talk

By:


You might find the title of this article, "How to Listen, so Kids Will Talk" to sound backwards. After all, isn't it the other way around? Aren't you supposed to get your kids to do the listening when you talk? Actually, it's both. True communication is a two-way street, a dialogue, an interchange. However, when one person is talking (usually the parent) and the other doesn't get a word in edgewise (generally the child,) then it's a lecture. When one person talks and the other discounts what is being said, it's a dead-end.

Although all parents want to able to talk with their children, poor communication or no communication is the way of life for many families. Now yelling, nagging, criticizing, ordering, lecturing, etc. don't count. Those are ways you might talk at your children, not with your children. And it's the talking with that constitutes true communication.

When you think of communication, you generally think about what you say. Words are the things that most people think constitute communication. Messages sent. But communication is so much more than words. Communication is about listening.

Really listening. And really taking in what the other person has to say. However, in my work with children, I have found that a basic problem with parent-child communication is that parents don't even think about how to listen so kids will talk. They are so busy talking, that they forget that kids have important things to say!

Ironically, while children really want to be able to talk to their parents, their #1 complaint is, "They don't listen." (This is followed closely by: "They don't have the time," "They don't understand" and "They overreact.")

So, want to know how to listen so kids will talk? By paying attention to everything they have to say--and then listening some more. Here are 10 Top Tips to foster communication between you and your children:

--Listen.

--Listen to what your children say.

--Listen to the way they say it.

--Listen to their body language.

--Listen to their behavior.

--Listen to what they don't say.

--Listen to their feelings.

--Listen to their opinions.

--Listen to the way they perceive things.

--Listen to their desire to be heard and understood.

How to listen so kids will talk? By keeping your mouth closed, leaning in closely and savoring the fact that your children are actually willing to tell you what they think and how they feel.

About the Author:
Dr. Vicki Panaccione has been called, "The World's Expert in Parenting," and "The Oprah Winfrey of Families." She is an internationally recognized psychologist, speaker, parent coach, media consultant, radio personality, prize-winning and best-selling author.

Dr. Vicki is a passionate and dedicated child psychologist committed to helping parents raise happy, successful kids--and enjoy the ride.

For more information about communicating with your kids go to



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Parenting Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.