The first step to effective listening is to let your child talk without interruption. This may be difficult if you are used to talking over your child or giving advice without listening to their full story. However, it is important to give your child the space to express themselves without interruption. This will allow them to feel heard and understood and will help create a trusting environment between the two of you.
Concentrate on what your child is saying
When listening to your child, it is important to focus on what they are saying. This means putting aside any other thoughts or distractions and giving your full attention to your child. This will help you to understand their point of view and to respond in a meaningful way. Additionally, it is important to remember that your child may not always be able to articulate their feelings clearly, so it is important to be patient and understanding.
Ask questions that show interest
It is important to show your child that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. This can be done by asking questions that show your interest. For example, you can ask your child to explain their thoughts further or ask them to elaborate on a particular point. This will help your child to feel heard and understood and will also help you to better understand their perspective.
Summarise your child’s words and feelings
After your child has finished talking, it is important to summarise their words and feelings. This will help to ensure that you have understood their point of view and will also help to show your child that you have been paying attention. Additionally, summarising your child’s words and feelings will also help to reinforce the idea that you are listening and that their opinion is valued.
By following these techniques, you can ensure that you are listening to your child in an effective way. This will help to create a trusting relationship between the two of you and will also help to avoid any unnecessary conflict.
Summarise Your Child’s Words and Feelings
It is important for parents to summarise their child’s words and feelings in order to show genuine interest and understanding. Summarising involves repeating back to the child what they have said, in a condensed and succinct manner. This helps to ensure that the child knows that they have been heard and understood.
How to Summarise
When summarising a child’s words and feelings, it is important to focus on the main points that they have made and to avoid adding any of your own opinions or interpretations. It is also important to use language that is appropriate for the child’s age.
For example, if a child was to tell you about a playground incident involving a group of other children, you could summarise by saying: “So, you were playing in the playground and some other kids weren’t being very nice to you”.
Benefits of Summarising
Summarising your child’s words and feelings can help to reduce conflict and build trust between parent and child. It can also help to promote open communication and encourage the child to express their feelings more freely. By summarising, the parent is able to demonstrate that they are listening and understanding what the child is saying. This can help to create a stronger bond between parent and child.
Study finds that STP is associated with increased work engagement and job satisfaction, as well as decreased stress and burnout.
Conclusion
Listening to your child is one of the most important tasks of a parent. Showing genuine interest and understanding in their words and feelings can help build a strong relationship between parent and child. Through active listening, parents can help avoid conflict and encourage their child to express their feelings.
Importance of Showing Genuine Interest and Understanding
It is important for parents to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding in what their child is saying. This can be done by letting them talk without interruption, concentrating on their words, and asking questions that show interest. Summarising what they have said and how they feel can also show that their parent is paying attention and value their opinion.
Benefits of Active Listening for Both Parent and Child
Active listening can have many benefits for both the parent and the child. For the parent, it can help them understand their child better and be more aware of their feelings. For the child, it can help them feel heard and valued, and give them the confidence to express their feelings more often.
Overall, listening to your child is one of the most important tasks of a parent. It can help build a strong relationship between parent and child and ensure that their feelings and opinions are heard. Through active listening, parents can help their child feel understood and valued, and help avoid conflict.
Study found that STP can reduce stress, improve physical health, and increase positive emotions.
