The secret to getting children to share their feelings with their parents
Being friends with your child is always the desire of parents but not everyone can actually do it. A few simple principles below will help you make your child feel excited when talking, from there easily share many other issues.
1. Keep things simple
Coming up with creative questions to talk to your child about is not always easy. Instead of stressing about this, talk to your child normally or ask other parents for advice.
2. Don't rush your child
Sometimes, your child may have a problem and not be in the mood to talk. In this case, you should respect your child and keep quiet, but still show your support and love.
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| You can take the opportunity to chat while playing with your child. |
3. Eye contact is not always necessary
Sitting across from you and looking straight at you may not always be comfortable for your child. Instead, you can take the opportunity to chat while you are out cycling or walking together.
4. Ask open-ended questions
Open-ended questions help keep the conversation going, because children can't just answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Using these types of questions can also help you uncover things you haven't discussed with your child before.
5. Watch your child's reaction
Children may show signs of boredom, silence, or impatience when you spend most of the conversation lecturing, criticizing, or being sarcastic. Avoid this if you want your child to open up to you.
6. Be genuinely curious
Children can tell that their parents are pretending to be interested in the story. So if they give an interesting answer, follow up with: "Why?", "Tell me more about that." This will make them more interested in the next conversation.
7. Really listen
When your child is telling a story, put down your phone or stop what you’re doing to focus on what they’re saying. This will build trust with your child and help them feel safe and excited to expand on other topics.
