Effective communication is a difficult challenge for many parents and their children because many children have concerns and questions that may be hard for parents to answer. Families must commit to building and strengthening communications skills each day. Doing so creates an environment where each person feels loved, needed and important. The way we feel, talk, listen and react has a major effect on our family relationships.
Communication is much more than just an exchange of words.
It includes what we say, how we say it, what we mean, and what the other person thinks we mean. Successful communication happens when the message that is sent is the same as the message received. Words often mean different things to different people. That's why it is important to spell out exactly what you mean, and then to check out what the other person thinks you mean. Communication depends upon listening, not only to the words, but also the feelings and needs behind the words.