One of the biggest challenges that many parents face is communicating with kids about their behaviour and how this may be impacting the rest of the family and the world around them. You need do so in a way that allows them to understand, as well as helping you maintain a clear sense of perspective. There are several factors that you can control when you are having this type of conversation. So, let’s check out what a few of these are.
Pick a Suitable Time and Place
Begin by choosing a time and a place that is going to facilitate the conversation. It may help to pick an occasion when your child is not distracted with another activity. You should also not try to talk to them when they are in an already heightened state. As for the place, pick a location in which they feel relaxed and comfortable – and not where they are going to become anxious.
Make it clear what behaviour you are talking about
When you talk about the behaviour that is causing an issue, it is important that you are make clear that they are not the issue, but rather it is what they are doing that is causing a problem. You do not want to make them feel like this is an attack but rather a conversation that you are both a part of. You are then going to make an effort to explain why the behaviour is not okay and the impact that it is having on the people around them. This can help to give your child some context and allows them to take on board other people’s feelings.
Focus on listening and being non-judgemental
The point of this conversation is that you listen to exactly what your child is saying and you don’t attempting to judge them. You need to come up with a solution that works for both of you and it can be helpful to establish the boundaries and guidelines. If you feel like you need to go further and get an Autism diagnosis Manchester, communicate this with a great deal of care and thought about the feelings of the child.
Use simple phrases and reassurance
The complexity of the language that you are using depends very much on the age of the child, but you are going to be focusing on using simple phrases and reassurance as this has been shown to be an important factor in having difficult conversations with kids. If your child does not understand straight away, you can then try a different strategy and an even more simplified approach. You need to both be on the same page for you to make any progress.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to communicate with your kids, ensuring that they feel reassured. This will put you on the best possible path to success and solving the issue for good, which should be the goal you are focused on.
