Problem: Article: Be patient and gentle with your child, even if you're frustrated by their behavior. Don't make a habit of scolding or criticizing them, or they won't want to open up to you. Show them that you care about them and want to listen to them. If you need to discipline your child, don't do it out of anger. Stay calm and make sure your child understands why the discipline is happening. Build trust by listening to your child when they talk to you. Take their feelings and concerns seriously. During an opportune moment, ask your child if they want to talk about anything. Bring up any concerning symptoms you've noticed. For instance, you could say, "What's been on your mind lately, Elise? I've noticed you don't come out of your room much these days. Is everything OK?" Choose a time when you and your child are not busy or distracted. Many kids just need a little prompting to start talking, but if your child clams up, don't push them to open up to you. Try again another time. Whatever your child tells you, give them your full attention. Don't interrupt. If your child seems to be having a hard time expressing themselves, ask questions to help them find the words they need, but don't put words in their mouth. For instance, if your son is having problems making friends at school, you could say, "It sounds like you're feeling bad about yourself because the other kids don't ask you to play with them. Is that right?" Your child may not know how to identify and express their feelings, especially if they're young. They may also feel embarrassed to talk about their problems. Pay attention to their body language and the things they're not saying in addition to what they're telling you. For instance, if your daughter squirms, avoid eye contact, and folds her arms while telling you that nothing is wrong, she may not be telling the truth. Try asking a few gentle questions to help her open up. Make a habit of talking to your child every day. Learn what their life is like who they spend time with, how they feel about school, and what their hopes and worries are. When you're in tune with your child, you'll notice more quickly when something is off.
Summary: Help your child trust you. Ask your child how they've been feeling lately. Listen to your child. Read between the lines. Check in with your child regularly.

Problem: Article: To activate the microphone on your walkie talkie, press the "push-to-talk" or "PTT" button. On almost all makes and models, the PTT button is the biggest button on the radio and it's almost always on the side of the unit. On some radios, the button will simply be labelled "talk" for short. On an earpiece, the PTT button is on the small case attached to the cable near the top of the earpiece. You can still use the regular TPP button with an earpiece in if you prefer. Keep in mind that only 1 person on a frequency can talk at a time. If 2 people speak at the same time, the signal will be difficult for others on the channel to understand and the 2 people speaking won't hear incoming messages. With the PTT button held down, raise the unit so that the microphone is 122 inches (1.35.1cm) away from your lips. On higher-end radios, the microphone is normally right underneath the antenna and will look like a vent. On cheaper radios, look for a small group of holes in the plastic case. Waiting 1-2 seconds before speaking allows your walkie talkie to establish a clear connection with the other radios on the frequency. If you don't pause before speaking, the beginning of your message might get cut off and you may have to repeat yourself. This is usually a problem for cheaper radios, but it's still a good idea to wait at least 1 second to establish the connection before you speak. Keep the button held down and say whatever you need to say. It can be kind of tricky to make out what people say over a radio so it helps if you keep your messages short. Think about what you want to say before pressing the PTT button and enunciate each word so that everyone can clearly hear what you're trying to say. Avoid saying personal or private things over a walkie talkie unless you know for a fact that everyone on the channel is wearing an earpiece and it's essential that everyone hears it. If you're using a radio in a professional setting, avoid using it to chat about random things that aren't related to your work. Radio lines should generally be kept open for important information. Once you're done talking, quickly release the PTT button and hold the radio up to your ear. You will not be able to hear anyone if the PTT button is still being held down, since the PTT button automatically shuts the speaker off. This prevents the microphone from picking up white noise or cross-talk, so keep your finger off of the button while you're waiting for a response. Repeat this process whenever you want to talk. Hold the button down to talk and release it to listen. After every use, plug your walkie talkie in to let it charge when you're not using it. This way you'll have a set of fully-charged radios when you need them. This is especially important in a professional situation where the radios are being used daily, since they tend to take a long time to charge. Some cheaper radios rely on batteries and can't by charged. Keep a set of spare batteries nearby in the event that the batteries in the radio die.
Summary: Hold the button on the side of the radio to turn the microphone on. Position your mouth close to the microphone. Wait 1-2 seconds before you start speaking. Keep your message short and pronounce words clearly. Release the button immediately after speaking and wait for a response. Turn your radio off and charge it after every use.

Problem: Article: People with a genuinely positive attitude are seen as more attractive and charming by others. The more you can cultivate this outlook in your own life, the more most people will like you. Don't worry if this doesn't come naturally to you it is something you can learn through practice. Be conscious about smiling more. Accept compliments with gratitude and humility. When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about situations or people, stop and try to think of a bright side or positive characteristic that can help you feel better about it. Accepting the fact that people are different from you, and that doesn't make them wrong, is part of having a positive attitude. Whether the difference is in terms of behavior, culture, or opinion, remember that these differences are not only okay, they make life more interesting. It's easy to think "Other people would be happier if they were more like me," but remember that most people are happy being who they are, and that all people aren't made happy by the same exact things. Spending time with friends might make you happy, while spending time alone might make a different person just as happy. Make a habit of trying to put yourself in other people's shoes, even (or especially) those who you find difficult to understand or relate to. Remember that there's at least two sides to every story. Make a genuine effort to see how other people have valid perspectives, even if they conflict with your own. Having an open mind will make nasty conflicts less likely. We all have "pet peeves," things that really bother us when other people do them. Think what yours are. Recognize that not everyone feels the same about these things. Further, make plans to deal with these things when they come up. Does it drive you crazy when people whistle or drum their fingers? Having a practiced, polite response to these behaviors that lets others know you find it frustrating without being critical or combative can help you get along better with others. For example, you could say: "Excuse me, would it be okay if I asked you to stop whistling? No offense, but it really drives me crazy after a while!"
Summary:
Cultivate a positive outlook. Respect differences between people. Seek to understand other people's perspectives. Know your own triggers.