We look at the role of listening and attention-giving in effective communications.
2. Learn to listen
• treat them like young adults (not children)
• Listen carefully to their views and feelings
Effective communication requires that parents
o learn to speak with their teenager rather than at their teenager (Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages of Teenagers)
o engage in discussion and be prepared to debate the issues rather than repeating Simplistic slogans such as “You're too young to have a boyfriend” or “drugs are dangerous”
3. Give your full attention
• recognize the important moments to listen and give your full attention
• don't try to listen to your teenager while doing something else at the same time
• maintain eye contact; observe your teenager’s body language
Question: When have you had your best conversations with your teenager?
make your husband or wife feel like the most important person in the world to you
focus on what you like and admire about your partner
express gratitude for what your partner does
show appreciation for who your partner is
make it a daily discipline
Write down six things you appreciate about your husband or wife. (Be specific: it may be thanking them for what they do, or it may be expressing your appreciation for who they are-try to make it a mixture looking particularly for things you may have come to take for granted)
When you have both finished, show each other what you have put.
You may wish to use the worksheet below for this question:
