When a child is very young, she doesn't understand a lot of talking. For example, when a baby cries, an understanding parent looks for a cause rather than blaming the child. The parent might check for hunger, a dirty diaper, discomfort, or loneliness. The understanding parent recognizes that a child cries because of a need. Parents can learn to be sensitive to those needs.
Understanding starts long before children understand our words.
Think about how it feels to be understood. When someone takes the time to understand our feelings, it may cause us to feel loved and safe. A child who feels understood by us is more likely to trust us and feel close to us. Feeling understood helps a child understand his own feelings, respect them, and deal with them. It may actually help the child find solutions to the problems.