The Top 10 Tips for Communicating with Children

Most people have more training before they receive their driver's license than before they become a parent. Educating yourself on how to communicate effectively with your child can be the key to achieving your parenting goals. If you do not have children of your own, these 10 tips can help you whenever you are around children.

  • Draw children out to speak about the things on their minds.

    You can 'prime the pump' by talking with them about their favorite foods, toys, movies, video games, etc.

  • Verbally reflect the emotions of a child before giving in to your need to teach them something.

    Parents are constantly making the error of educating their child when their child expresses pain. "I hate my nose" is often responded to with, "you have a perfectly good nose" and the child is left to feel all alone with what could become an enormous problem for them in years to come.

  • Teach your child to wait instead of interrupting your conversations.

    One technique is to teach your children to lightly touch your arm and to wait peacefully and quietly to be acknowledged by you. Children who interrupt miss a chance to learn to control their impulses and can upset the flow of an adult's conversation.

  • Play little games whenever you see children.

    For example, you could put something such as a coin in a hand behind your back and ask the child to guess which hand it is in. This is a way to build a strong connection with a child and make a child feel honored.

  • Lower yourself physically to a child's level by sitting down, bending down, or sitting on the floor.

    It may have been months since any adult has joined the child on their own level.

  • Hold and play with a child's toys or trinkets.

    Play is the language of a child. If you stop for even thirty seconds to draw a picture alongside of a child who is coloring, you could become one of their heroes.

  • Tell short stories to children.

    Make the stories up or pull them from your own childhood. Stories can be used to build a connection, to teach a lesson, or just to leave a child feeling better than when the conversation began.

  • Follow up on the promises that you make to children with action.

    Children are usually more hurt than adults by broken promises. Ironically, many people treat their promises to children as less important than their promises to adults.

  • Sacrifice some of your time to interact with children and to focus on them 100%.

    Most adults do not interact with children who are present because the children are not able to meet their needs the way that an adult can. Five minutes invested in the life of a child will pay dividends that an hour invested in the life of an adult may not.

  • Master the art of Socratic questioning.

    This means that instead of expressing facts or lecturing that you ask a question to stimulate the child's own reasoning process. Socratic questioning opens up a place in a person's mind for the answer to be remembered. For example, you could ask, "How do you think we could take better care of the puppy?" instead of telling your child what to do.

    About The Author

    This piece was written by Dr. Clare Albright, Psychologist and Parenting Coach, and author of "100 Tips for Parents of Two Year Olds", which can be downloaded for only $5.77 from http://www.parentsoftwoyearolds.com

    professional maid services Park Ridge ..
    In The News:

    ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.
    ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.
    Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.
    DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.
    Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
    New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
    Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
    New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
    Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
    Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
    New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
    The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
    San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
    FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
    Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.
    Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.
    Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.
    Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.
    Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.
    Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.
    Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.
  • Getting through the School Daze

    It's back to school time again. Does the thought of... Read More

    Teaching Problem Solving Skills to Children with ADHD

    Even though the "Stop and Think" movement in ADHD treatment... Read More

    Character Education

    Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More

    Keeping the Stress out of Single Parenting

    Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More

    Motivation - The Key to Your Childs Educational Success

    For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More

    My Stomach Hurts - I Cant Go to School Today!

    It's the third time this week that Sam has complained... Read More

    The Recipe For The Making Of A Self-Assured Child: One Part Communication, Two Parts Love

    Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More

    Stop, Look, Listen! Steps to Better Parenting Communication

    As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More

    Resilient, Confident Kids - 10 Ways to Promote Resilience in Children

    Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More

    10 Secrets To Know You?re A Good Working Parent To Your Kids!

    How are parents to know they are doing the right... Read More

    Family Meals: When Dinner Schedules Dont Match

    Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More

    Childs Play: Treating The Insanity of the Mental Health System

    In today's mental health system there is a pattern of... Read More

    Motherhood is a Perfect Adventure

    How often do you think of family life as an... Read More

    How To Homeschool Without Making Your Child An Outcast

    If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child,... Read More

    How Do Campers Protect Their Children?

    Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More

    Parents Rights Violated By Public School Compulsory Attendence Laws

    Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental... Read More

    THE NEW SCHOOL VISIT: 5 Things to Look For

    Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More

    Achieve Success At School - Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor-Roll Students!

    With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More

    My Teenaged Parents

    Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More

    Babys First Month at a Glance

    Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your... Read More

    What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

    Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More

    Help Your Child Do Better in School

    1. Create... Read More

    Who Are Your Kids Talking To Online?

    Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More

    A Place For Everything: Its Childs Play

    What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room... Read More

    Ten Ways to Help Your Child Make Friends

    Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent or teacher more... Read More

    cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..