In Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. A Great Communicator

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an excellent orator. His “I Have a Dream” speech is one of  the most remembered and quoted speeches. 

Remember how exciting it was when your toddler learned how to talk? Do you recall wishing for some quiet time when your preschooler spoke in a continuous stream of words? Most parents of elementary school students don’t miss the preschool monologue but would value some dialogue.  When we ask, “How was your day?” the typical child’s answer summarizes the entire day in one word: Fine, Okay, Boring. 

Effective communication in the home is the main bridge to building a lasting and loving relationship with our children.  So…how do we encourage positive communication? Implementing the following parenting tips will help accomplish this goal:

1.      Ask specific questions. “What was the best part of your day?” “What was the worst?” “What did you do in art?” This will frame the events of the day and make responding less overwhelming.

 

2.      Fill your child in on your day as well. This will train them in the art of conversation.

3.      If we want our children to talk we must be interested in what they have to say. Give eye contact, limit distractions, attend fully, and respond to what has been said. Implementing these four listening behaviors will encourage self worth in our children.

4.      35% of what we verbally communicate to our children is through our tone. Make certain the tone matches the message. Many times our children feel yelled at, not because of what we have said but because of how we said it.

5.      Avoid the use of sarcasm and subtle put-downs. We live in a sarcastic culture. Sarcasm and subtle put-downs leave a child with feelings of inadequacy. The commonly used phrases such as: “Hel…looo” and “What part of no don’t you understand?” need to be eliminated if we want our children to feel valued and capable. As parents, we can handle our frustration in a more constructive way. Replacing, “Hel..loooo” with  “Look at me.” Reiterating our answer or having the child repeat back the answer given is more effective than belittling the child with, “What part of no don’t you understand?” These responses accomplish the same goal but they are done in a way that is respectful to the child.

6.      Specifically reinforce desired behaviors and attitudes. “That was so great the way you encouraged your brother. No wonder he loves you so much.” Remember to focus on the positives to build good character in your child.

7.      Normalize your child’s experience. When he confides in you about being teased, recall a time when you were teased as a child. Providing empathy builds the parent child relationship and puts the difficulty in the proper perspective. Together come up with a constructive solution to the problem. This will train your child to handle unpleasant life circumstances.

Just a Martin Luther King, Jr. motivated and taught us to have a culture that respects all human beings, we desire to have a home that respects all family members. 

Strong societies and strong family relationships are built through the wise use of words and actions. 

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