EFFECTIVE CONVERSATION WITH KIDS

Daddy! Can you help me with my homework?

Sorry dear. Can’t you see daddy is busy with the laptop, ask mommy. 

Mom! Mom! I have something to show you…... 

Baby, look mama is cooking your favourite dish. Just wait for two minutes. Let me finish and come to you.

Mom i have a story to tell you…

It's time for bed dear. Tomorrow you have to get up early. So go to sleep, let's talk about it later.

That's how a conversation in a family goes on nowadays. We claim that children are our main focus but we forget to listen and converse with them. Children open up, when we have an effective conversation with them. Open and cosy conversation and it will lay a path to magnify their 

• Confidence
• Self-Esteem
• Cooperation
• Good Spirit
• Poise
• Good Relationship

In today’s frantic world, it is indispensable to create a fruitful time for the kids. One of the ways to spend quality time with them is to have a good conversation with them.

Conversation- listen, respond and speak

Mom! I have something to show you…... dad! My friend and I…..

Mam! Today at my school….

          When a child tries to have a conversation with a parent or a teacher, the child expects them to listen to what they are saying. The feeling of being listened to, is the greatest satisfaction for the child.  Listen and respond by building your conversation with what they want to convey like ‘Carry on...’ ‘And then what happened’ ‘That's good to hear’. These encouraging words will make the child feel that we value their conversation. This will boost their confidence. Listening isn’t just about hearing what they say, but also about trying to understand what’s behind those words. Study their body language and expression, these observations will help to deal with their problems and have an effective conversation.

                  Whenever the child pops up with a problem, we as a parent have the tendency to rush in to solve the problem for them but sometimes the child wants to be heard and expects the parent to understand their point of view too. 

Talk about the child’s strength

             Yes. You read it right. The title reads -’ Talk about your child’s strength’. As a parent or a teacher we usually talk about their weakness. 

‘You are not good at math.’ ‘You need to get involved in sports too.’ ‘You are a bad dancer.’ ‘That child is bad at singing.’

 Look at the negativity that this kind of talk can jnstill amongst the kids. They are growing buds. They should be moulded with positivity and encouragement. Children have both strengths and weaknesses. We have to lead the conversation focussing on their strengths. Let them know what they are good at and what they can do more about it.

Make use of positive language 

                       Don’t run, you will fall down.

                       Don’t drop the glass.

These words can be re-built as 

                      Be careful while you run.

                     Hold on to the glass.

These ways of communication needs much thought and practice. Positive communication leads the way for positive thoughts that helps the kids to have a positive behaviour. Name calling and shaming is an absolute no when it comes to children. It brings down their morale and affects their psyche very much. Positive kind words give your child more confidence, resulting in more happiness and positive behaviour, while also encouraging them to try hard and achieve success. 

            Express your gratitude with kind words like ‘Thank you…’ ‘The way you helped your brother made me happy.’   Kids have a tendency to imitate the elders, so the way you talk plays an important role in their behaviour with others.