We so often want to know how to get our kids to listen to us, but it’s equally important they know that we’re truly listening to them. How can we convey that we’re fully present and not just hearing their words, but really listening? Here are three ways:
Get down to their eye level and make eye contact,with nothing in your hands.
Reflect back when you heard them says : « So you wanted to play on the swing, and Amanda wouldn’t get off ».
Acknowledge their words with statements like « Well, that was a smart thing to do » or « « Oh, I think I might have found that a little scary too » or « « That was a great way to be a friend ».
All of us, regardless of our age, want to know we’re being heard.