Building Healthy Communication With Your Child
Strong communication is the foundation of trust between parent and child. It’s how kids learn that their feelings matter, and how parents model empathy and respect.
🧏 Practice Active Listening
Instead of jumping to fix, start with: “I hear you saying you’re frustrated…” Reflecting back shows your child you’re really listening.
📱 Limit Distractions
Kids know when they don’t have your full attention. Even two minutes of undivided focus goes further than 20 minutes of half-listening while scrolling your phone.
💬 Encourage Open-Ended Questions
Swap “Did you have a good day?” for “What was the best part of your day?” Open-ended questions spark deeper conversations.
🤝 Be Honest & Age-Appropriate
If you don’t know an answer, say so. Honesty builds credibility. Adjust your explanations to their age and understanding.
💡 Takeaway
When children feel safe to share, they’re more likely to come to you in difficult times — now and in the future.