Parent child communication start with parents being involved with their kids.

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Talking to Your Kids

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Parent Child Communication

Parent child communication should be easy. We all communicate. We all love our kids. So put the two together, and it should be easy. Right?

Have you ever had this conversation? You: “How was school today?” Your Kid: “Fine.” Then silence for the rest of the ride home.

Be A Part of Your Kid’s Lives

Part of parent child conversations is to know what your kids are doing. It’s hard talking to your kids if you’re not involved in their lives.

It’s the difference between talking to a stranger and talking to a friend. You don’t have to be Super Dad or Mom, but you need to know what your kids are doing, who they are doing it with and where they are doing it. Go watch their extracurricular activities, and be involved if possible.

It’s much easier to talk to your kids about something you’re familiar with, and if you’re not involved in any of their activities, it’s going to be hard to relate. Parent child communication begins with children knowing that you’re interested in their activities, and when your child really enjoys something, they will want to talk to you about it.

Remember that conversation doesn’t have to be an interrogation. Let your child express themselves, let them talk, don’t interrupt. Conversations don’t have to be a series of questions, it’s better when it’s an exchange of ideas and experiences. Talk about school, football, cheerleading, friends, band, teachers, etc. Sometimes you have to float a few different balloons before you figure out what your child wants to talk about.

Some Things to Think About

I talk to kids all day long, but I’m no parent child communication specialist. But, I have observed some things about when and why some kids talk to me. Here’s a list of things to consider:

Try to have your conversation in a private setting. Kids open up more when there aren’t a bunch of other people around.
Don’t lecture, and be an active listener.
Allow the child to speak. If you ask questions, make sure your questions promote further conversation.
If your child is having problems, help them to arrive at a solution. Don’t make any hasty judgements about their problems, and never interject demeaning labels such as “stupid” or “lazy”.
Always reinforce their decision to talk to you, especially if they talk to you about a specific problem.
Turn off the television, and don’t answer your phone during the conversation. What could be more important?

Start Early

It’s always easier to get your kids talking if you start them at an earlier age. When kids understand that their families make time to talk about their lives with one another, they get into the habit of communicating with their parents and siblings. Set aside time to have family conversations. It doesn’t have to be formally scheduled, or have specific topics, just set aside some time to be informed about your children’s lives.

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