Question

Strategies parents use to encourage children to communicate with them

Answer 1

Mentioned below are the strategies that parents use to encourage children to communicate with them:

• Effective communication at young age
• Communication at the understanding level of children
• Eliminating all potential distractions
• Keeping mouth closed during interaction
• Assuring the children that they are heard
• Asking the right questions and necessary ones only

Explanation:

Communication between parents and their children is an important part for building an effective relationship. The way parents communicate with their child is how the child reciprocates to his or her parents. It is also the way they start to view themselves. But sometimes the communication process is complicated when the parents can't get their child to talk to them. To make it work, parents follow the strategies below:

• Effective communication at young age

The feelings they develop for parents at a young age are the feelings that will decide the future of their relationship.

• Communication at the understanding level of children

Saying things/terms that can be easily understood by the child and doesn't require further explanation or definition.

• Eliminating all potential distractions

When the child is communicating, ignore any potential distractions so that they can trust their parents that they are listening effectively.

• Keeping mouth closed during interaction

A slightly open mouth means the parent is ready to interrupt what the child is saying. This makes the child feel that he or she is not being heard.

• Assuring the children that they are heard

Making sure that there are no distractions in the communication process builds trust in a child for the parent and they tend to communicate openly, effectively and often.