Ways to Communicate Effectively With a Young Child

Your toddler or preschooler may still be learning how to express thoughts and feelings. The ways that you interact in the early years can influence your childs self-concept, level of confidence and responses to challenges throughout life.

Get on Your Childs Level
For a young child, engaging in conversation with an adult who is towering overhead can be intimidating. Squat down so youre on your childs level, make eye contact and demonstrate that youre interested.

Listen to Your Child
Its natural to want to finish a sentence if your toddler cant seem to find the right word or to want to correct every grammatical error. Resist the temptation and pay attention to what your child is trying to communicate.

Make it clear that your childs experiences, feelings, thoughts and opinions matter, even if theyre different from yours. Ask open-ended questions that show that youre genuinely interested.

Pay Attention to Your Body Language
Kids understand nonverbal communication. Its easy to get frustrated if your child is chattering non stop while youre trying to cook dinner, but negative responses from you can affect your childs self-esteem.

If you roll your eyes, sigh or seem distracted, that will convey the message that what your child is saying doesnt matter. You wont be able to eliminate distractions all the time, but you should focus as much as possible and make a point to spend one-on-one time talking with your child without distractions on a regular basis.

Tell Your Child What to Do, Not What Not to Do
Kids often do things that they shouldnt because they simply dont know any better. Telling your child what not to do may just add to the confusion. Instead, focus on what you want your child to do. For example, instead of saying, Dont leave your coat on the chair, say, Hang your coat in the closet.

Praise Your Child for Effort and Good Behavior
Kids wont do things perfectly the first time, or even the first several times. Focus on effort and improvement, not results. That will teach your child that its normal to make mistakes and that its important to keep trying.

When you notice your child doing something positive, such as completing a chore without being asked or sharing with a sibling, praise the action. Be specific so your child understands what youre happy about and will want to repeat the behavior.

Call Out Bad Behavior, But Dont Criticize Your Child Personally
Its important to note the difference between getting upset with a childs behavior and getting upset with the child. All kids will make mistakes and do things that theyre not supposed to do.

Point out a negative behavior, explain why it was wrong and impose consequences when necessary, but make it clear that youre criticizing the behavior, not the child. For example, say, Im upset because you scribbled on the wall, not, Youre a bad boy/girl.

Published with permission from RISMedia.