EP 284: How to Actively Listen to Your Kids (And Why It's a Great Idea to Do So)
b'Active listening is something I talk about quite a bit. (And I hope people listen to me! \\U0001f602)\\nIt is a practice that lets others know that we\\u2019re interested in what they have to say and to be on the receiving end of it feels great and allows for true expression.\\nIt\\u2019s a vital skill for managers, sales pros, spouses, friends, and maybe most of all, parents.\\nOne aspect of the practice of active listening includes what is often referred to as either looping, mirroring, or reflecting - the act of repeating back to a speaker what you\\u2019ve heard them say.\\nAnd this is very effective for adult-to-adult conversations.\\nBut in conversations with your kids? Maybe not so much.\\nKids may get frustrated and impatient with this process and this will defeat the purpose.\\nSo a great alternative is to instead ask some open-ended questions of your child.\\nThis allows you to hold space for them, let\\u2019s them know you care and encourages them to express themselves; all very important aspects of a healthy parent/child relationship.\\nAnd to develop it as a habit, I suggest setting aside 20-30 minutes at a given time each day and just start a conversation with your child and ask these open-ended questions as you chat.'