Raising kids is hard work sometimes; there’s just no question about it. And one of the things that is most difficult as parent is getting your kids to open up and talk to you as they get older. There are some things you can do to help though, if you’re willing. You will find below amazing tips on how to get your kids to talk to you!
1. Be honest, open and upfront
The first, and main thing you can do, is be honest, open and upfront with them. You can’t expect your kids to open up and talk to you if you’re not willing to do the same with them. This doesn’t mean you have to give them every detail of your intimate life, just as it doesn’t mean they need to do the same with you; it does mean discussing things that go on in the home that have an impact on the whole family, and expecting them to do the same. For example, if you and your spouse are considering having another child, that is something that will affect the family just as much as if one of your children decides to do the same while still living with you at home. If you don’t include them in such discussions, how can you expect them to include you?
2. Be there for and with them
Another thing you can do is be there for and with them as they age. Or to put it another way, don’t let a chasm develop between you and your kids just because it’s expected of teenagers. Though it might seem like such a thing is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be. A lot of kids stay close with their parent’s right through the teens and on into adulthood.
3. Talk with your kids
The way to keep things close between you and your kids is to talk with them, as opposed to at them, and by doing things with them. For example, it’s common for a parent to do laundry with a child or to do yard work or any other of the myriad other chores that need doing on a constant basis. Also, some father’s toss a ball or Frisbee around with their kids, or wash the car, or go fishing. The point is, you need to maintain a relationship with your kids that is more than just them doing whatever they want and getting yelled at when they cross a line.
4. Have a Friendly relationship
To get your kids to open up to you, there has to be some sort of friendly relationship going on. You and your kids need to talk about what is on your mind, or their mind, on a constant and regular basis, just as you would in any other type of relationship.
5. Withhold judgment
And finally, to get you kids to open up to you, you have to be willing to withhold judgment on the things they say. If your kids find that you have to make conversations with them about you, or your opinions on everything, than they are going to lose interest in talking with you, which of course will lead to you not knowing what is going on in their lives. Not the result most parents are looking for.
If you follow these tips to get your kids to talk to you, the line of communication will be better between the both of us. This will help your kids to open up and talk to you during their tween and teen years and well into adulthood.
Great tips, it’s so important to be open with your children.