5 Ways to talk better to Kids

5 Ways to talk better to Kids

When you talk better to your kids, you help develop their speech and language skills. This happens because children acquire language at a very young age. And this happens when they listen to you saying the different sounds, words, and grammatical structures. It also helps them improve their vocabulary. You may have heard people saying “The more you talk, the better it is for them”. However, it is not just about the amount of time that you spend talking with your child. The quality of the talking matters too. That is why it is very important to talk better to kids.

So what does talking better mean?

As parents, we often think about how our children communicate or speak to us. How they behave, how they talk, are they being polite….etc? All these things matter to us. However, many times we lack awareness of our own communication skills. How we speak or communicate, the type of sign language we use, the tone we use, the sense of humor, the time we give our children, etc.

Talking better means speaking nicely to your children. This is the best way to get them talking to you. It is our role as parents to set a good example for our kids. As W.E.B Dubois quotes, “Children learn more from what you are than what you teach”. They learn from examples. And as parents, you can be the best example for them by talking better to your kids.

So coming to the next question:

In what ways can I talk better to my kids?

You can communicate better using these 5 ways to talk better to kids

1. Use positive language and tone

When you use positive language, it helps your kid make appropriate choices independently and build their confidence. This boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Here is an example. If you find your child scribbling on the wall instead of saying “Don’t color on the table!!” you can say “Oh, crayons are used to scribble on paper. Shall I get some for you? Also, be mindful of using appropriate tone when speaking to them. Communicate calmly and clearly to them.

2. Use your child’s name

Using your child’s name while talking creates a culture of respect, recognition, and consideration for the conversation. When you use your child’s name during the conversation, it acknowledges their identity. Use your child’s name in a polite manner. This will help you in grabbing their attention towards the conversations.  However, be careful not to overdo it.

3. Have a good sense of humor

There are several ways in which you can develop a good sense of humor in your kids. Use humor yourself while speaking to them. Maintain a supportive and warm environment in your home or around your kids. If a child is ridiculed, they might not want to be caught as humorous or sharing light humor. Also, be playful with your children. When mistakes are made, try to make a joke out of it (Not always!!). Go ahead and turn the tables. Make silly or goofy mistakes and have your children laugh at you. These are some simple ways to get the humor in conversations.

4. Eliminate nagging

Nagging is excessively emotional labor for children as well as parents. It creates limited opportunities to learn and communicate. It makes children less independent as well. Instead, what you can do is include your child in family discussions. Give your child time and space to complete their goals. Be direct and tell them what to do and how to do it. It is also important to allow your child to decide how they want to do the tasks they are assigned.

5. Make them your priority

To have an effective communicative relationship with your children, you need to make them your priority. It simply means being there when they need you. Make time for them. Listen to them. This simple gesture will increase the bonding between you and your child. When you make children your priority, it creates a sense of trust in them. They also know that you will always be there for them. This will help them be comfortable and share their feelings with you.

Talking Tips for Babies & Young Children