While everyone across all age groups is forced to stay home and together due to the pandemic, children are spending more time with their families than ever. Amidst the scare of Covid, household chores, and work from home, it is imperative for parents to not overlook the importance of communication with the children in their formative years.
The best way to introduce any new things or habits to children is via games. Here are a few highly interactive games to enhance the communication skills of your kids. Communication is a life skill that should be instilled in children as early as you can and this will make sure the child excels in every field of life. One of the most precious skills you are imparting for a peaceful and successful life.
You may not be aware, but children always look up to you, noticing and learning from you. Good communication with your children will not only shape their personality but also their future. The conversation style of your child says a lot about their individuality and the best part is that it can be molded and groomed.
Here are a few things you should keep in mind and everyday practice to improve communication with your children:
- Be present: When your child comes to you, give them your full attention. Listen to what they have to say, understand which emotion they are feeling, ask them questions to understand their perspective, and discuss with them. This simple act of being present for them will make them feel important, their feelings seen, heard, and validated. This will groom them in being rational, honest, secure, and mindful.
- Give feedback: You may not have noticed but the child always makes a note of your feedback on everything they do. Make sure to always give feedback and try to give positive and constructive feedback after processing everything well.
Start with celebrating their intention and hard work to do something and offer some advice to make it better if you have any valuable improvement tips.
- Use the right words: Children have their language and set of words while they are learning to express and talk which we find adorable more than often but let us not get carried away and use the same to speak to them. Make sure you are using proper words, vocabulary, and pronunciations around them and while speaking to them so that they learn and improve their command on expressing in words.
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Skip, CTRL+X, Delete: A responsible parent, guardian, or family member should avoid certain words and things to do in front of the kids at all costs.
- Stop talking down to the child
- Do not criticize family and friends continuously
- Do not comment on anyone's physical appearances or pick out negative points to focus on others
- Do not compare them with other children
- Do not fight verbally or physically in front of children
- Spend time with them
- Do not shame them in front of others or vice-versa
- Refrain from indulging in habits like smoking or alcohol too often, etc.
All of these are shaping their character, confidence, and thought processes. Set a good example for them to follow and adopt.
- Select kinder words: There is always a better way to express yourself to your child. Instead of harsh criticism, sarcasm, and mean tones; use a gentle and polite tone, a vocabulary of positive and affirmative sentences. Compliment them on their actions and words often. Tell them how wonderful they are and words of admiration and love. These will make your child feel important, safe, confident, and enough.
For example, instead of “leave me alone and do not interrupt me right now” you can use a patient tone and say “Can you please give me some time to finish this work so that I can give my full attention in a while?”
or
instead of saying “I am so disappointed with your exam scores” you can say “I know you can do so much better than this and I am sure you will get a good score next time”.
We have heard this so many times that we forget that communication is the key to harmonious relationships and a peaceful home. When you start communicating effectively with your child, they will learn to reciprocate and communicate their feelings too. The habit will take a while to form, the changes will happen gradually and soon you and the child will ace at communicating.