What types of activities do you do to promote communication with your tweens and teens?
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Scott and Angie Milhous
Family meal time is one of the best times to sit together and talk. I always try to remain neutral during conversation and then think wisely before answering. Bicycling and going to the gym or other activities that we can all enjoy. My son and I have always watched news programs together which is a great way to discuss current world situations, and find out how he feels about them. Open communication is a must, as well as hugging and showing children that they are important.
Posted in Types Of Communication | 4 Comments »
January 27th, 2010 at 4:09 am
I was a single parent for most of my sons growing years and we always had pretty good communication. We did chores together, went to garage sales, fishing, sports. During any of these activities, since they were routine and peaceful to us, we talked. The trick was to avoid judgement and conflict, empathize and help solve a problem. Which is not to say that there never was conflict. But routine chores done together or some enjoyable activity usually got us talking again.
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January 27th, 2010 at 4:48 am
We played scrabble or yahtzee on sunday afternoons. Sometimes we went bowling. We watched movies together and had dinner together, on the table, without distractions or interruptions. We would read books and discuss them. The list is long and endless. Played catch, basketball, went to the park, the zoo, the mall. Went over homework together. Take an interest in their lives – their friends, their hobbies, likes, dislikes, thoughts, feelings – and never ridicule.
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January 27th, 2010 at 5:35 am
The most important one, by far, is being home when the kids get home from school. I call it the Golden Hour. In that time right after school, they’ll talk about their day, about what went on with their friends, about how they feel. If you’re not home when they arrive and you ask them about their day later on, you’ll get a one word answer "Fine".
Next on the list… eating dinner together and before bedtime meeting for a few moments as a family to air grievances, mention important things coming up the next day, etc., and holding family prayer.
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Mother of five, including four teen boys and a tween girl
January 27th, 2010 at 6:12 am
Family meal time is one of the best times to sit together and talk. I always try to remain neutral during conversation and then think wisely before answering. Bicycling and going to the gym or other activities that we can all enjoy. My son and I have always watched news programs together which is a great way to discuss current world situations, and find out how he feels about them. Open communication is a must, as well as hugging and showing children that they are important.
References :