Conversations are crucial, especially in family settings. Loved ones need to know what is going on with other family members, be involved in each other’s lives, and be open about how their lives are going. Meaningful conversations are important, especially for young kids who might not know other ways to express themselves. In this article, we explore why you should have such conversations with your young children regularly.
It Teaches Them Crucial Conversation Skills
Regardless of age, we interact with the world and other people through how we communicate. This can be through verbal and non-verbal communication, both of which are essential to learning as early as possible. Having conversations with young children allows parents to teach them how to communicate effectively.
In addition to the words they use, young children can also learn how emotions affect communication, how to read non-verbal cues, how to put their thoughts in a coherent order and to listen effectively. Listening is a massive part of communication that many people do not know how to do. Teaching children how to listen from a young age will help them throughout their lives.
It Shows That You Care
Few things show someone does not care about another person or what they think or say other than not communicating meaningfully with them. Communication in this regard means sitting down and listening with the aim of understanding and providing helpful answers.
Having a meaningful conversation with young children also shows that you trust them. This trust is about letting them formulate their thoughts better and communicate with you in the best ways they know how.
It also shows that you care about what they think or are talking about if you take time to really communicate, being present for the whole conversation without being distracted or wandering off.
It Helps You Understand Your Children Better
Many people forget that children are complex beings, with complex emotions, even in cases where they do not know what those emotions are. They also have thoughts, are inspired, and have desires. A parent would not know all this if they did not set aside some time to talk to their children.
Again, a parent should do equal parts talking and listening because they should want their children to be heard, but to also help them with some of the complexities they may not understand yet.
Doing this is especially important for foster carers who would like to understand their foster children better. In addition to the numerous resources for understanding foster children provided by agencies like ISP fostering, listening, and communicating effectively also help with understanding them better.
It Helps Build Strong Emotional Connections
When you take the time to sit down for a talk with your biological or foster children, doing so can lead to stronger emotional bonds. When kids know they have the undivided attention of their parents, they are more likely to ask for guidance or to have the confidence to try new things. Strong emotional connections are typically behind both of these.
While they may or may not have the words to do so, children have a lot to tell and express to you. Sitting down for meaningful conversations makes this possible while making your children more open, more confident, and more likely to want to overcome adversity and feel loved and cared for.