Parenting Stack Exchange
Parenting Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [communication]

The process of expressing ideas, thoughts, feelings and values so as to be understood by others

Communication is the process by which people convey their ideas, thoughts, feelings and values so as to be understood by others. Within the scope of Parenting.SE this includes communication between family members of any generation, parents to children, children to parents, parents to in-laws, spouse to spouse, etc. This tag should be used for asking about how to explain something to another family member or for help in understanding what another family member is saying to you1.

1 Because sometimes we all need help understanding toddlers.

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How should I respond to a 6 year old's dark drawings?

My 6 year old nephew likes to draw. Most of the drawings have been of the family, animals and locations we visit or that he would like to visit. Until recently, I wouldn't describe any of these images as being dark. Over the last fortnight, some of…
user31428
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How can you offer other parents suggestions without making them defensive?

Because we parents spend so much time complaining to each other sharing best practices, we often find ourselves in situations where another parent is sharing an approach or technique that we have learned or read enough to know is less than…
Jaydles
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Should I lie to young children?

In my experience many people routinely lie to very young children, whether it's small lies to serve a purpose ("No there's no more left so let's put it away") or larger narratives like Santa or the Tooth Fairy. I read in this question that children…
J Jones
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Is it ever okay to tell a kid you disagree with their parents?

When I have a close connection to a child through family friend, mentoring, neighbor, etc., I usually back up parents (even if I don't agree with a particular parenting style sometimes) so as not to be a wedge between the child and their parents.…
user497
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How can I stop people from speaking 'through' children? Should I?

Frequently when I'm with my kids, people will talk to them but ask questions which are clearly intended for me or for another adult in the room. It's a strange situation where people ask my children emphatic questions, like "That's a lovely dress.…
J Jones
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What are constructive ways to teach the value of attitude/tone to a 5 year old?

My five year old son occasionally has abbrassive tones with other parents and friends. It's hard to describe. Things like: "I saaaaaaaaaid I don't want to play on the swings!" (when invited by another friend he knows to play on the swings at a…
Mike B
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At what age it is psychologically OK to teach child that parents need personal time?

I have 3 years old twins and I have a problem that I don't have any personal time, because when I finish my job and go home, they ask me to play with them all time I spent at home. When I go to work, they don't like it, but I tell that it is…
Vitalii
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What to do when you side with your kids over your partner

I'm new here - be kind. Without getting into the specifics of the event, the punishment, etc. I have a daily recurring issue. A personal concern I have with my partner is their inability to listen/communicate. She has a bit of a scattered…
Adam
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Using experience as a reason for correctness

Although I haven't used the "because I'm older" or "because I'm your dad" argument before with a child who questions my reasons, I know many adults who do. Is this harmful in any way? I have taught my children that age is never a reason why…
Snakes and Coffee
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How to get a great-grandparent to use a video phone

Our child's surviving great grandma doesn't get to see our son as much as she (or us) would like. I would love to be able to setup a simple to use video phone for her to "join us" during playtime or even dinner (in the great room). How can I…
BozoJoe
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Pen-pal’ing in 21st century

Last night, my friend and I had the idea of setting up his daughter and mine as pen pals. He lives in Calgary, Canada, I live in Hong Kong. His daughter is 7, mine is 9; they have never met. Is pen-pal’ing still a thing nowadays? Some of the reasons…
Kal
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Asked why about everything

She is 3 1/2 and when she askes why it’s even after you answer it but then she says why that color is red mostly about everything is but why... could their be something g wrong
MRG
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How to encourage my daughter to be more social?

My daughter is 10. She is very shy that she does not have friends at school. currently I am overseas and try to video talk to her, but she is shy to talk to me and does not want to talk to me cause she is shy?! I am worried that when she is grown up…
asmgx
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