Life and school are easier for kids who live in homes where good communication, healthy habits, and regular routines exist. Here are some strategies for good communication: 1. Talk Often. 2. Get to the point. 3. Express feelings clearly with ‘I’ statements. 4. Speak for yourself and not for others. 5. Focus on behaviors rather than traits. Effective communication serves as preventive maintenance, reassures family members that they care about each other and appreciate each other’s efforts. Great everyday communication is more efficient when you need to bring up issues, make requests when needed, and resolve conflict when it arises. Communication problems can raise any family’s stress level, leading to conflicts that strain relationships and reduce the general quality of family life. Good communication can help address conflict in a productive way, let family members be heard, and help them stay connected to one another. Family therapy can help families work on essential communication skills.
Judith Nuesch, www.nuyutherapies.com