The importance of communicating with your child!

Did you know that on average a mother spends less than 30 minutes a day talking to her children. The average father only 15 minutes a day. There is definitely a problem with communication in the average American home. Few subjects in parenting are as fundamental, or as important, as communication. Humans function so much by language, whether implicit or explicit, that learning how to communicate effectively affects virtually every aspect of family relations, and interaction with others outside of the family. A child needs to see that their point of view is respected and they should be allowed to discuss their opinions without fear of persecution. When given this opportunity to communicate openly with the parents children will learn with time and persistence that they don’t know as much as adults and will seek an adults input. The parents need to being willing to listen attentively and fully to the child’s point of view. The child’s honest opinion of what they have observed often gives a parent insight to how the child is viewing the world around them and reminds them of what it was to be that age. After listening to your child, repeat in your own words what you have heard them say. This reinforces the fact that they have been listened to, and also gives you an outlet to give your child some "parental advice" that they so desperately need at this time in their life. The next time your child wants to talk help them, help yourself and help your relationship. Stop whatever you are doing completely, look directly at your child, dropping to their level if necessary and listen to what they are saying completely without interrupting them before you respond with your comments.