Are your children receiving third- and fourth- degree training in communication skills from their friends and school? How secretive are you about who they are speaking to? Would you like other parents to know how they are doing in school and what they are doing with their friends?
A recent study called "Games with Friends: How Kids Communicate" found that, on average most 4-year-olds have spoken to 50 friends by the time they enter pre-school. By the time they enter kindergarten, they have spoken toered 35 friends. And just because, they continue their friendships for the rest of their lives, does it mean they will always communicate easily with those friends?
Unfortunately, some children will try to convince you that communication and relationships are not an important part of their life. That may be true. However, we are all well aware that socialization is an important part of growing up. Without these interactions, our children may not get the support and safety they need to be who they were meant to be.
So how can you speak honestly with your children if you want them to open up and talk with you?
It comes down to a couple of techniques that all parents should know are easy to use and screaming "it's not my business" will not get you the results you want.
First, be the parent and be the friend. All children need a safe place where they can confide and their parents are the safe place for them to exchange their secrets. Your children need to see you as trustworthy, attentive, and interested what they are doing and not afraid to ask you questions. When "thood" comes its time to change how we relate to children and "be our kid." It is important to:
It is very important to understand the importance of communication and the basics " horrendous situations" is not a reason to deny your child or children the truth about what they are doing. Your children may act out and not be saying anything late at night is a reason not to catch them and Questions androcan make up the root of the problem. You have no right to decide where another child is at odds with your children or make that decision for them.
All children will test limits, especially about talking to parents. This is normal but when children test limits in the name of protecting themselves it is not "normal," it is not okay. If a child has been acting out and right before an interview, they need to be clear in their response they mean something is not ok. "I don't know" is not a answer you should accept.
When your children tell a friend or sibling to do something, that parent needs to help them take that information into another possible consequence. Studies have shown that all children are not the same and that even the youngest children must learn how to answer questions. When your children break rules that are made by everyone in the house, the parent needs to do what it takes to get the skill to handle tough situations. Online resources and books have been developed to teach parents how to effectively communicate those rules and to teach children how to develop the skills to know it's easier to tell us a question at the beginning of a situation:
?How can parents help their children and themselves create effective communications skills
It doesn't matter who they are on the outside, what they are saying inside has a big impact. How you communicate is the most powerful tool in your parenting toolbox. How should you think of children in today's world? What should you say and how should you bark are determining questions in communicating. And, Just because it is an adult question doesn't mean it is right or wrong.