Bend Coach Jess Sicurezza is a pro when it comes to teaching effective listening skills and she’s here to give us the scoop.

Wanting to connect more with your child or teen? Well, listen up ‘cause we’ve got more tips for you: 

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1. Validate their feelings. It’s easy to dismiss our children as being “dramatic,” but remember that emotional outbursts are a form of communication, and it's important to pay attention and hear what is going on from their perspective without trying to fix it. Make eye contact and try repeating back to them what they said so that they know they’ve been heard.
   
   
2. Model “I” statements. Big feelings are inevitable, so when your child seems upset, help them to come up with “I” statements to describe and take ownership of their feelings. You can use this example: “I feel ___ when ___.” For younger kids, you may ask them to draw out how they’re feeling, reassuring them that there are no wrong or bad feelings.
   
   
3. Look for entry points. When is your child the most chatty? Bathtime, bedtime, or first thing in the morning? Notice when they’re most likely to open up to you and eliminate distractions as much as possible so that you can connect during these times. 

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