The Right Way to Talk to Your Children

Communication is not only an expression of words or gestures, but is listening and paying attention to each other in an active and positive way, as well as sharing meals and playful interaction. But what should not be communicated to your children? HEALTH investigates.

Why It Matters

Whether it happens around the dinner table or during the car ride home from school, communication is more than just an exchange of words. Further elaborating, Dr. Valeria Risoli, a clinical psychologist tells that family relationships help children learn how to communicate verbally and non-verbally. And with all of us glued to gadgets, if the effort is not made to promote real communication amongst families and social groups, the future generations’ society will be made of people unable to talk to each other, a society of individuals unaware of the existence of other people around, and a society of loneliness.

Parents Talk

Parents should communicate to their kids what is going on, always adopting a simple and clear way of talking that is appropriate for their age. But some things should be avoided, as follows:

1. Kids do not need to be informed about grown ups issues: arguments between parents, financial difficulties, or serious family issues. Respect the age of your children, and do not load them with worries and situations that they are not emotionally ready to deal with.

2. Your children do not need to know how good other children are. They need to be praised and appreciated for what they are and have, without being compared to anyone else.

3. Your children do not need to be informed about disturbing and traumatic events of life: let them enjoy their age without spoiling their serene development with details that they are not ready to face.

4. If you are facing difficulties within your marital relationship or at work, your children do not need to be informed about the details and should not hear negative comments about their mom, dad, or even your boss.

5. Parents should not keep secrets about important events—such as an illness of a family member as children can understand and sense if something is happening.

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