Listening to the endless talks, questions of your child is a tough task and may be tiring. And with a long list of household chores in mind, listening to them becomes a challenge. As a result, if you ponder the communication with your child ends up as a prologue with passive listening.

However, this must not be the case. Research suggests that if you listen to your child then it is likely that he may listen to you. Here are some reasons why you must listen to your child:

Unlocking the Hidden Wisdoms of Kids

Promotes bonding

The parent-child bond is one of the strongest in nature. Once bonded with a baby, you’ll have it for your entire life. All the care, concerns and day-to-day chores you do for your child gives him/ her a clear clue of your position in the baby’s life.

Communication encourages a child to learn to be expressive and share what he feels about anything, be it an outing, a gathering, food or any incident. Listen to your child and assess his feelings and equally respond and gradually it shapes up into a bond.

Shapes personality

Active listening to your kids helps shape the personality of kids. When you get into two-way communication you offer inputs, reactions, feedback which helps child frame thoughts, ideas and words aptly. These thoughts shapes his belief and personality.

Instills confidence

Imagine yourself as a child, relive your good old days and think of a situation if you were interrupted and asked to keep quiet makes them shy away and limit thoughts to self. Gradually this becomes a habit and the child finds it difficult to express thoughts thus lowering confidence level.

Develops the art of communication

Listening helps develop the art of communication in your child. The more you converse the better your child would be able to frame his thoughts, feelings. He learns the basics of it and gradually masters the art at home.

Language Development

You can also take this as a chance to make your kid learn a new language. For instance, if your mother tongue is Hindi and you wish to make your child master English then start conversing with him in that language. Gradually, he would learn the vocabulary and become a master at it.

How can you improve listening skills as a parent?

Practice active listening: Listen to him intently and try to understand what sort of opinion he is forming and communicating.

Be physically and mentally present: Keep away your mobile phones, switch off the television sets and make sure you just don’t hear but listen.

Observe child’s body language: Look onto your child/ toddler’s body language and get clues. Maintain an eye-contact to let him know he is being listened to.

Ask questions: Prompt questions in between to that you are equally curious to know his experiences, questions and concerns.

You must have often heard that spending quality time with your child is crucial. Indeed it is one of the best things you can do with your child. It helps you develop a bond, an understanding while assuring your child that you are there for him/her.

But in the hustle-bustle of our lives, we tend to ignore the communication aspect and our lives get surround

Tips on communicating with your child

Talking and listening to your child is something you may least give a thought upon. But having realised its importance, you must ensure to take care of the following:

Take out time for your child: I know that’s demanding but for more of the doable you ought to go for it. If household chores disturb you then better go out for a stroll to a garden you can listen to.

Avoid reactions and instead, respond. There’s a difference between the two. While reactions are instant, responses are thought after. So choose response, practice it in day-to-day communication and rather adopt it while communicating with all family members.

Avoid giving a lecture and get into a conversation with him/her. Lecturing is sought of one-way communication while conversing gives a vent to pent questions, concerns, experiences of your child.

Do not judge: Listening to your child can often let you come to a conclusion about your child and make you judge. Avoid this. Your child is in the formative stage and he is yet to develop a full-fledged personality. It’s you who has to shape him, mold him and nurture his thoughts.

On listening to your children

Recently, I listened to a poem and found it worth sharing and pondering upon. It beautifully describes why you must listen to your children.

Read intently and you’ll get the message which shall go a long way in developing a bond with your child.

Take a moment to listen today,

To what your children are trying to say.

Listen today whatever you do,

Or they won’t be there to listen to you.

Listen to their problems, listen to their needs,

Praise their smallest triumphs, praise their smallest deeds.

Tolerate their chatter, amplify their laughter.

Find out what’s the matter, find out what they’re after.

Tell them that you love them every single night,

And though you scold them, be sure you hold them tight

And tell them everything’s all right and tomorrow is looking bright.

Take a moment to listen today, to what your children are trying to say

Listen today whatever you do and they’ll come back to talk to you.

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