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My child never talks to me!! My child doesn’t listen to me!! My family just never communicates!! We don’t talk anymore!! We used to talk when (s)he was little, but now that the teen years are here, all I get is silence! Communicate? I’ve got a teenager. It’s impossible to communicate with a teenager!

Do any of these statements sound familiar to you? One of the major issues facing today’s families, single parent families in particular, is the communication gap that exists between parents and youth. Building Bridges is the section devoted to helping you close that gap.

Effective communication is essential for building a strong family. With the issues facing youth today, it is critical for youth to know that they can talk to their parents about the challenges they face. In order for parents to be on the receiving end, they must first learn to be approachable, receptive and open.

It is also important for parents to learn to talk to their children and not at them. From every day talk to diffusing emotional situations to dealing with discipline, parents who do not develop effective communications skills are on the road to disaster.

With increasing levels of stress in today’s society, effective communication can be the primary road to avoiding violence within families.

Stay tuned to discover the power of an “I” statement, the importance of timing, the benefit of listening and a host of other topics. Please feel free to email us with your suggestions and questions.