What? What? Now What? Say What? - Communicating with Your Child - Parent Child Relationships

What? What? Now what? Say What? Does this sound familiar? Do you find yourself repeating over and over anything you tell your children? "What" is a word used to inquire about something. Do your children inquire about everything you ask them or tell them? As parents we need to set some time aside each day to visit with our children. Meal time is a good time to discuss the day's events. For younger children bedtime is a great time for children to talk about what they did that day or will do the next day.

What? What? Now what? Say What? Do your children often ask the same questions over and over again hoping to get a different answer? Instead of telling our children what to do, we need to take the time to explain to them the reasons behind our decisions. This will help them to learn what we expect and why we expect it, thereby enhancing our parent child relationships. When you can, do take time to sit down with your children and listen to their worries and concerns. Put aside distractions and really listen. It is very difficult to discuss something when you only have five minutes before you need to leave.

Parent child relationships can be improved in our homes. As parents we may need to reorganize our goals and center our attention more on our family. Taking time to be with our family and children is of highest importance and will improve parent child relationships and parent child communication. Children feel significant and contented when parents make time to be with them and do activities together. "Getting things done" can easily take the place of spending time with the family. How often do we say to our children: "not now, later, or just a minute"? No wonder our children ask us: "What? What? Now What? Say what?" It is a good idea to plan family time and plan individual time with each of our children. Try to find daily moments to begin communicating, listening, and chatting with your children.

Take advantage of cell phones in communicating with your older children. Know where they are what they are doing. Call them often. Ask your child's opinion on different family matters. Be kind and respectful toward your children. Ask questions about whatever your child is involved in. Talk to your children's friends.

Take an interest in what your child is doing. Attend their games, performances, field trips, and concerts. Volunteer at their schools. By increasing your interaction with your children and taking time to listen to them, you should see an improvement in your parent child relationships. Communicating with your children should be a fun time and not a stressful event.

What? What? Now what? Say What? These inquires should lead to a positive response from parents. Use your children's inquires as a way to initiate conversation with your children.