A Great Idea …
“Children experience frustration and resentment when parents seem uninterested in how they feel and in their point of view. Parents can initiate favorable changes in their children by listening with sensitivity.” (Child psychologist, Haim G. Ginott, in his book Between Parent and Child, p. 83)
In Other Words …
Very few things get us more upset than when we feel like we are being blown off or ignored. The same is true of our children. When our children don’t feel that we are listening to them, they may act out even more in an attempt to be taken seriously.
How This Applies to You …
Listen attentively to your child. Face the child. Notice how he or she is speaking. Try to understand what the child is feeling. Express your understanding: “Wow! That was hard!” “You must have been upset.” Keep listening. Your child is likely to feel safe, to feel valued, and even to find solutions to challenges as you show earnest interest.
To Find Out More …
For more great ideas (or to share your ideas), visit our Navigating Life’s Journey blog.
For an excellent (and free!) program on parenting, see The Parenting Journey at www.arfamilies.org and, if you have children less than 6 years of age, check out See the World Through My Eyes.
For more in-depth reading, we recommend Between Parent and Child by Haim G. Ginott.
