So many of the emotional flare-ups and conflicts that arise between parent and child are triggered by the failure to communicate effectively. Instead, we react emotionally, with frustration or anger. It's only natural, but it alienates your child. It's an old story....
I often reflect on what my life was like as a kid. My early childhood happened in the 50's and my adolescence happened in the 60's. It was, I think, a typical lower-middle class upbringing. I had five brothers and two sisters and a father and mother who loved me and...
Photo of Tywi Forest in Wales by Roger Kidd Fresh air! Today is a cool, sunny day and the air I breathe is delicious. Of course I'm not conscious of this all the time. But my diaphragm works to fill my lungs with air several times a minute, whether I think about it or...
While each of the ten high-impact parent-child communication skills described in Connect with Your Kid are amazingly effective, their power magnifies greatly when used in combination. Without question, my favorite one-two combo is open-ended questions to encourage...
The last time you visited my website, did you notice the banner at the top of the page? Along with my smiling face, it displays two books: Connect with Your Kid and Parents Coaching Parents. Parents Coaching Parents is a brief, easy read that explains how one parent...
A common consequence of parenting an adolescent child: the alienated teen. It's natural for a growing child to seek more independence. After all, becoming an adult and creating a happy, successful life of their own is the goal. But you want your child to remain open...
The book, Connect with Your Kid, is a how-to manual for improving the 10 most important parent-child communication skills. And listening to understand is at the top of the list, for several reasons: When your child is trying to express something, you need to hear it....
When you improve the way you listen, your child will feel respected and understood, so they stay open to your guidance and the bond between you grows stronger.
Driving home, I saw a young man walking on the sidewalk. Shirtless in the midday sun, he sported a tanned, muscular body. He seemed oblivious to a future consequence: excessive exposure to solar radiation (sunlight) can cause skin cancer. The sight reminded me of a...
What if you had great communication skills? Some parents do! But most don’t. When parents connect in ways that strengthen the bond with their child, kids are more open to parental guidance and wisdom. Most parents struggle with this. Learning powerful communication...