Five Steps to Communicat with Children

MY KIDS ARE FROM ANOTHER PLANET
Is it daunting task to Communicating with children ?
Often they seem to be on another planet and in some respects they are. Depending on their age they will be incapable of seeing another’s point of view, seeing all sides to a problem or will not be able to visualize abstract concepts.
Follow these 5 Simple Steps to Communicat with Children
1) Respect is a must for any good communicating with children strategy
By respecting our children’s needs and feelings we will teach them, by example, how to respect us. We can show respect to our children simply by accepting what they are telling us as being true for them and important to them
2) Make eye contact when you talk
Get down to their level. Eye contract is very important for children (the younger the more so). If we stand and talk over our children, our words literally go straight over their heads This way you will not only know they are listening to you, you will also connect with your children.
3) Be precise in what you say
Avoid implying things or talking in the third person. Children have many limitations on the way they can processes what you say to them. Because of these limitations in their thinking when we are communicating with children we need to do it in a very basic way. In other words keep it short, sweet and to the point. Use examples that they can relate to. Children from about 5-7 years of age will also tend not to do things that they do not see or understand the point of. It is at this age that we need to start to give short and concise explanations for the things we want them to do
4) Give Descriptive Feedback
Feedback is an essential element in learning and improving on what we do. Feedback tells us if we are on the right track or not. The best way we can give feedback to our children is by making it descriptive. Describe what you see in a child's picture, or describe what you like about it. For older children, reiterate what you think they are saying to make sure you are both on the same wave length
5) Start with positive
Research has shown that we all (whether children or adults) focus on the negative component of what is said to us and on what was said last. So if we put the negative first we will soften its impact by the more positive last statement. Try it for yourself, read the two feedback statement below about a child’s homework “Your writing is very neat and looks great, next time remember to try and put a space between the full stop and the start of the next sentence.” Now turn it around “Next time remember to try and put a space between the full stop and the start of the next sentence, the rest of your writing is very neat and looks great.” In the first statement, it is easier to forget the positive comment on the neat writing, and focus on the negative component. The second statement although has the same words will leave the child feeling more confident and please with the good job he has done yet mindful of the gap between the full stop and the next sentence.