Want your kids to talk to you? Explore "The Listening Playbook" by Ashley James for proven phrases, habits, and strategies to better connect with your children.
Excellent advice. The one disagreement I have is telling my kids situations that happened to me that closely match what they’re going through. Usually my story is that it was difficult, awful, or a learning lesson for me. It’s really more of a “I get it” / understand what you’re going through. I also use past stories of what their siblings experienced. These have been the best & most helpful conversations because they see others have gone through the same thing & they feel less alone. It gives them reassurance & perspective, & sometimes even direction on what to do or to let it go.
This doesn't apply only to kids. It's all good universally applicable genuine communication skills.
Just my observation…
There is also an interesting distinction between these questions:
What do you think you should do? - Invites a judgment about what is expected or right.
What would you like to do? - Invites personal preference and desire.
What feels right for you? - Invites a more intuitive, felt sense of what is appropriate.
What do you feel drawn to do? - Invites an emerging inclination without imposing an expectation.
Excellent advice. The one disagreement I have is telling my kids situations that happened to me that closely match what they’re going through. Usually my story is that it was difficult, awful, or a learning lesson for me. It’s really more of a “I get it” / understand what you’re going through. I also use past stories of what their siblings experienced. These have been the best & most helpful conversations because they see others have gone through the same thing & they feel less alone. It gives them reassurance & perspective, & sometimes even direction on what to do or to let it go.