Talking So Your Child Will Listen The following strategies will help you communicate most effectively. Pick a time to speak when you can have each other’s undivided attention. Don’t discuss important things when one of you is absorbed in another activity or has another place to be. Choose a good time.
Listen.
Communicate directly.
Allow your child to speak without interruption. Sometimes it’s good to paraphrase where you don’t agree, or interpret back: “Let me see if I understand you. It sounds like you feel that…”
Open the conversation with a direct statement. “I’d like to talk to you about alcohol and other drugs. Is now a good time?”
Avoid communication “stoppers.”
These are single, sometimes threatening statements that shut down any response: “I better not catch you drinking.”
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