Keys to family communication according to the age of children
Families go through different stages that must be adapted, from the birth of children, school age, adolescence and finally the adult stage. The communication is one of the keys to be able to pass these stages successfully and to know some tricks to foment the communication in family is fundamental to consegurilo.
Communication within the family is not based solely on the exchange of information, but helps connect feelings and emotions between parents and children, thus strengthening their self-esteem, their personality and serving as a model in their social relationships. If so, how can I connect with my children through communication? How to listen and talk to them effectively?
Communication with your children from 0 to 6 years old
Children are not born with the ability to express what happens to them, what they think or feel, but they learn from what they see from their parents, that is why if adults know how to communicate effectively, we can endow them with our children from an early age, the social skills and communication needed to know how to express themselves properly.
Some tips to develop communication skills at this stage are:
1. Stimulate your language. It is important that they listen to us speak and that we allow them to express themselves so that they acquire a greater command of the language and develop their ability to communicate. This way you will favor the development of speech.
2. Give them information. When they point out something, tell them the name of the object, ask them and wait for them to respond without getting ahead of them, correct them if they say something wrong, etc.
3. Make them participate. Let them be part of the communication, they can express their ideas, ask what they do not understand, clarify doubts ...
Communication in the Primary stage (6-12 years)
As your knowledge grows, your vocabulary and your experiences grow. They are interested in new words, they develop their internal language, etc. It is at this time when parents can take advantage of this curiosity to encourage both verbal and non-verbal communication, for this we can follow these guidelines; "Keep in touch with their eyes, in this way we let them know that we are interested in them and what they have to say, giving them the importance they need.
1. That they feel important. Demonstrate that what they have to say, their ideas, are important, giving them the necessary security to express what they feel and think without fear.
2. Express your thoughts and emotions. By expressing what we think and how we feel, we help them to be able to recognize and express their feelings and emotions.
Communication with adolescents (12-19 years)
Adolescents are going through a period of physical and psychological changes, which can generate many tensions within the family. In this stage our children talk less, they tell us less things, they take us the opposite and they reject everything ... that is why it is important that parents learn to communicate in an effective way thus improving the relationship with our children. Here are some tips that help us communicate with our teenagers;
1. Know how to listen Let our children tell us without interrupting them, or interrogating them, showing them that they are being listened to with gestures such as nodding, looking in the eyes, smiling, etc.
2. Consider your opinion. Avoiding imposing our ideas and letting him state his point of view, trying to reach agreements whenever possible.
3. Empathize. Put yourself in their place and try to really understand what your son is trying to explain to you, how he feels and what he needs from you.
Rocío Navarro Psychologist Director of Psicolari, integral psychology
