Another finding of the Communication Project was that family communication can have profound changes during celebrations or trauma. Frequent and continued communications help family members to realign their roles and positions within the new changed system. Grandparents are a key component to how families communicate. They set the tone and often the model of communication. As children leave home they still touch base with parents and home.
Grandparents then become the link with other siblings.
Grandparents are also more likely to communicate with extended members such as aunts and uncles. In today s mobile society, the lack of anchor-grandparents often leads to a lack of communication until the newly formed family is stable enough to reconnect to extended family members on its own. These tips can be offered to parents as a guide for communication with teenagers. Use open-ended questions. Monitor your tone of voice.