(Published on July 23, 2024)
Effective communication between parents and children is vital for child development and growth. Today, we will present 10 strategies and tips to foster a positive, understanding environment for productive communication and understanding.
1. Reflecting and Validating Feelings
Reflecting and validating feelings helps children feel understood and acknowledged. This can be done by asking follow-up questions such as, “So you are feeling [emotion] because of [event]?” If they agree, you can continue to understand them, creating a relaxed, positive environment for them to express their emotions. If they disagree, ask them to clarify their feelings and follow up with more questions.
2. Adopting Their HumoΩzxr and Language
Effective communication with children requires understanding their unique modes of expression. By aligning our language to their perspective, we cultivate a positive environment for genuine connection and mutual understanding. This may involve adapting to their vocabulary, avoiding abstract topics, and accommodating their interests and humor. This approach shows our commitment to their needs, building trust for more meaningful exchanges.
3. Embody an Engaging Presence
Using open body language and maintaining eye contact shows that you are actively listening and interested in the discussion. Relax and nod naturally when they speak, demonstrating your interest and affirming their thoughts. If you disagree, wait until they finish speaking before expressing your concerns.
4. Use Captivating Visual Aids and Imagination
Explaining abstract concepts or ideas to children can be challenging without hands-on activities or visual aids. Using tools like drawings or imaginative scenarios can help children better understand these concepts. For example, to teach kindness, you might say, “Imagine someone pushed you and called you names at school. How would that make you feel?”
5. Asking Open-Ended Questions
Rather than asking simple “Yes or No” questions, ask “why” or “how” questions. This approach shows that you care and seek to understand them, facilitating bonding and deeper conversations.
6. Reinforce Self-Value and Respect
Building self-esteem and confidence in children is crucial for their personal growth. Helping them achieve a sense of self-worth and importance fosters open and effective communication. Ways to do this include:
- Complimenting or praising their efforts, regardless of the outcome
- Avoiding being overly critical or personal
- Providing frequent encouragement and optimism
Boosting self-esteem makes children feel important and useful, reducing the risk of mental health disorders and improving overall mood.
7. Refrain from Making Subjective Comments
We often feel the urge to criticise what we don’t like, especially from our children. Instead of criticism, provide constructive feedback and practical advice. For example, instead of criticising a child for getting a poor grade, discuss their feelings about the test and their study habits. Offer advice and encouragement for future exams, which also helps build self-esteem.
8. Delineate Clear Boundaries and Establish Clear-Cut Rules
Clearly state what is acceptable and unacceptable. Establish clear rules and parameters without ambiguity. This approach gives children a sense of security and helps them understand what is expected of them.
9. Learning Through Imitation
Studies have found that children often mimic their parents’ behavior. By using open and respectful language, we set an example for them to follow.
10. Getting Down to Their Level
Similar to maintaining eye contact, it can be beneficial to sit down to their level and communicate. Towering above children may create an intimidating environment, but lowering to their level makes them feel more comfortable and open to talking.
Alternative Solution: Hire a Domestic Helper In Hong Kong
Many domestic helpers have children themselves, equipping them with the necessary skills for effective communication with kids. Hiring a domestic helper can be beneficial for several reasons:
- Emotional Understanding: By observing and engaging with children daily, domestic helpers gain deeper insights into a child’s emotional state, behavioral patterns, and nonverbal communication. This understanding can facilitate more effective communication between the child and other family members.
- Routine and Consistency: Domestic helpers often establish and maintain daily routines with children. This consistency helps children feel secure and comfortable, improving their ability to communicate their needs and preferences.
- Interpreting and Translating: Domestic helpers can act as intermediaries, helping to interpret a child’s needs or wishes and conveying them to parents or other caregivers. Experienced domestic helpers are adept at understanding the ideas a child may be trying to express, especially if they cannot yet verbally articulate their thoughts.
- Modeling Appropriate Communication: By demonstrating effective communication techniques, such as active listening, empathy, and clear expression, domestic helpers serve as positive role models for children’s developing communication skills.
- Language Skills: Domestic helpers, especially those from diverse linguistic backgrounds, provide multilingual support. They help children practice and develop their language skills in the household’s primary language as well as any other languages spoken by the family. At HelperChoice, we can help you find a domestic helper with your preferred linguistic background.
- Smoother Transitions and Consistent Routines: The stability and security provided by a domestic helper’s consistent daily routines create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. This sense of security fosters a positive environment for child growth. Domestic helpers also assist children in adjusting to changes in the household or new family dynamics that may impact communication.
- Emergency Assistance & Flexibility: In the event of an emergency, domestic helpers can take on various roles, alleviating tensions in the household.
- Finding the Right Domestic Helper: In Hong Kong, finding and hiring a domestic helper can be a lengthy process. Finding the perfect helper with sufficient experience to meet your family’s needs can be challenging. That’s why we recommend contacting employment agencies like HelperChoice. HelperChoice facilitates the entire process, including obtaining visas and work permits for helpers, developing contracts, and expediting the hiring process.
You might also be interested in:
- Visa Renewal For Filipino Maids
- How To Hire A Domestic Helper Online?
- Local Maids v.s Foreign Maids In Hong Kong
- A Parent Guide: Baby Milestones
- 10 common challenges for new parents
Hire A Domestic Helper In Hong Kong | Direct Hire | HelperChoice | An Ethical Maid Agency
About HelperChoice
HelperChoice is a reputable maid agency that holds a valid license approved by the Labour Department Hong Kong. The agency offers an online platform for direct hiring of domestic helpers and facilitates visa processing services specifically for Filipino maids. With a vast network, HelperChoice has successfully served over 75,000 employers in Hong Kong and Singapore, providing access to a pool of more than 20,000 domestic worker profiles. The agency maintains collaborative partnerships with local NGOs, including Enrich Hong Kong, Help For Domestic Workers, and PathFinders, organizing workshops and webinars to support foreign migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
How To Hire A Domestic Helper On HelperChoice?
On HelperChoice platform, both Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers are available for employer’s selection. The employer can find a suitable helper in accordance with their family’s needs and specific job requirements, for example, the helper’s year of experience in child care, pet care or elderly care, cooking skill, nationality, training certificates, the ability of speaking Chinese (if applicable), reference letter from the previous employer and such.
See Also: How To Find A Domestic Helper On HelperChoice Platform?
Once you find a domestic helper, you may contact HelperChoice team to process helper’s visa for you (applicable for Filipino maids). Visa processing service fee includes all mandatory visa application fees, including the fee required by the Consulate of the Philippines and paper work. If you domestic helper is currently in Hong Kong and about to finish the contract soon, it will be deemed as a local case. The visa processing time will take around 6 weeks. However, if your helper is currently based outside Hong Kong, you have to choose overseas visa processing service and the processing time will be longer up to 3 months. Most of visa processing services provided have included 2-year mandatory helper insurance, which will cover helper’s medical fee. To learn more, please feel free to contact customer support via Whatsapp or click here for more information.
Contract And Visa Renewal For Filipino Maids
Employers are required to renew the employment contract and visa for foreign domestic helpers every two years at the Immigration Department and the respective Consulate. If you need assistance with processing the contract and visa for a Filipino maid, you can reach out to the HelperChoice team via Whatsapp. Normally, the visa renewal takes around two weeks to complete. Most visa processing packagesinclude a mandatory two-year insurance coverage for domestic workers. For more information, please contact us via Whatsapp.