Daily life can be busy.

Daily life with kids can take that busyness and grow it exponentially. With increased demands on our time and attention comes a decrease in our willingness and ability to communicate. Usually, the people who suffer this most are our children.

It’s a common complaint that our children don’t answer or ignore our questions, or respond in the way we’d like them to. However, we need to acknowledge that they are still growing and processing - what is important to us (for our own reasons) may not be as central in their own thoughts.

We also cannot expect a prompt response from our children if they are the first people we shut down when they ask US a question. Think of those times as a busy parent where you tell your child that you don’t have time to deal with them - would you in all honesty treat an adult in the same way?

If communication with your child is important, try to use positive words, open body language and honest, age-appropriate conversation that shows that you are open to what they want to say. To quote Mister Rogers, “if we care, we can listen.”

Children crave our attention, love and acceptance - if they don’t receive it, they will be tempted to find it in other potentially more negative ways. Does your child feel that you think positively about them, or are you one of their biggest critics? Parental fear can make us judgemental.

If they feel valued by you, they will continue to communicate with you as they grow.