Positive Parenting: How To Communicate With Your Child

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Did you know that everything you do says something to your children? Every time you interact with your children, you communicate something to them. When you help them with their health challenges, such as providing over the counter meds for ADHD child; dismissing them to watch a game on TV or getting them involved in cooking a meal, you reveal things to them. Therefore, these are ways to help you improve your communication with your children.

Learn Effective Listening and Communication Skills

Your children need to know that you hear them, understand their concerns and support their ideas. However, this takes effort. You need to actively participate in the conversation with your children. You should use your nonverbal communication, such as head nods and eye contact, to show your support and hear them. You should also repeat their statements back to them to show your understanding, and ask questions. If your children say they don’t want to play with a neighbor kid, ask why. However, avoid the appearance of judgement and only provide support.

You should also use words they understand. Avoid beating around the bush and tell them exactly what you think and feel. Avoid foul language and sarcasm. Stay positive and kind, and get down on their level.

Spend Quality Time Together

One of the best ways to show your children that you love them includes spending time with them. Whether you work outside your home or not, they need some time with you. Therefore, if you need to build a schedule that targets specific times during every day of the week as family time, do it.

Children with mental and emotional challenges may need extra attention and time. For example, if your son has ADHD, you can provide ADHD medication for kids, but you may also need to help him find active or creative things to do. These children may need more of your time than those without these challenges.

Provide Support When Needed

You should always support your children. Acknowledge their feelings and desires. If they are unhealthy, help them deal with them in a supportive way. If they don’t want to play with another child, find out why, but support their decision.

Sometimes, this support involves some work on your part, such as researching ADHD in 5 year olds if your child struggles with this challenge. This support shows them that you value their feelings.

Acknowledge and Reward Accomplishments

Your children want to know that you see them and see what they do every day. Therefore, use “notice” statements, such as, “I noticed that you cleaned your room this morning. Great job.” This positive affirmation helps them distinguish your expectations and makes them feel good. They may also feel encouraged to repeat these actions.

At times, just acknowledging their good behavior is enough, but if they have major accomplishments, such as finishing a book on their summer reading list or going a week without getting in trouble, you should do more. Build a rewards system for when your children hit specific benchmarks this summer.  

You are the key to building strong communication in your family. When you make an effort, you can see dramatic changes in your children’s self-esteem, security and their desire and ability to communicate.

Jeff Campbell
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