THE KEY TO SPEAKING TO YOUR CHILD AND BEING HEARD!

Treat your child as you would a dear friend:

• Make eye contact. Speak only if within touching distance. Stoop down and lay a respectful hand on your child’s forearm, or hold hands.
• Use a calm, respectful tone of voice.
• Get some privacy to discuss behavior when in a group.
• Take responsibility for your part. We are partners in all the mistakes children make.
• Try to see your child’s point of view.
• Make sure the message of love gets through.
• Focus on the 80 % that is positive.
• Get rid of the idea that in order to make a child do better, first you have to make her feel worse.
• Own your problem and ask for help to solve it.
• Listen to your child’s side without interrupting.
• Use words and attitudes that you would with a friend.
• Encourage by acknowledging every effort, whether successful or not.
• Try the unexpected, give your child a hug, when they are the most unlovable.