Importance of Listening to Children

Do you always pay attention to what your child has to say? Listening to children is very important as it will help you to understand their problems better. Read on to know more about the importance of listening to children.Adults many a times tend to ignore or overlook what their child is trying to say or point out in his or her unique way. Repeated act of ignoring them not only turns out to have a devastating effect on the child but also on parents who find their children moving further away from them. Every child has a right to speak and parents have an obligation to listen. Listening to children is important and comes with several advantages. In this articleStrengthening ParentChild BondUnderstanding Child’s PerspectiveHelping Children When They Need it the MostBoosting ConfidencePreparing Them to Face SocietyStrengthening Parent-Child BondWhen you listen to what your child has to say with interest and patience you develop a strong connection between yourself and your kid. On the one hand your child realizes that you are there for him or her. It gives your child a sense of relief and he or she begins to trust you. On the other hand, you begin to understand every emotion, every little thing that your child implies when he or she uses a certain phrase. The communication between you two only grows with time, never to snap ever.Understanding Child’s PerspectiveAs parents, most of us believe that we are always right and our child is thinking wrong. During instances of conflict, we choose to lash out or impose your decisions on your child without hearing him or her out. Have you considered for a moment also that your child may actually have a valid explanation for his or her actions and thoughts?In order to understand your child’s psychology it is imperative that you listen to him or her and then after proper analysis of the facts, come to a conclusion. You may turn out to be the one at fault and may not like it but it is all right, the important thing is that you listened and now you have a chance to rectify the mistake in a constructive manner.Helping Children When They Need it the MostSometimes, we as adults do not realize that something is troubling us and we need help unless we talk to someone. Can you imagine your kid to understand that he or she is going through a tough time and needs some help to get out of it or at least face it? No, absolutely not. He or she is just a child after all. As parents you need to be there for them at all times. Only by talking and listening to them you can figure out when your child is in need of your aid and support.Boosting ConfidenceWhen your child is trying to share his or her thoughts at a dinner party in front of your friends and you snap at him or her asking him or her to keep quiet, can you imagine what impact it has on your kid? Sure, maybe your child should not have been there in the first place but he or she was and you could have chosen to react in a more appropriate manner.What harm would it do to just listen to what your child has to say? It would help to boost his or her confidence and self esteem. If you continue to ignore your child, there is a high chance that he or she will turn out to be shy and an introvert.Preparing Them to Face SocietyWhen you listen to your child from a young age, it gives you an opportunity to understand his or her flaws that you can correct over time. Not only this, you get a chance to teach him or her art of speaking in different tones and pitches at different situations. Your child believes and trusts you the most and is sure to follow your advice. By listening to your child you can help him or her grow and develop into a fine young individual ready for the world outside.The importance of listening to your children cannot be stressed upon any more. It is your responsibility and duty as parents to give your children time and patience they deserve. Listen to what they have to say and enable them to develop their personality.What are the benefits of listening to what a child has to say? How does ignoring children affect their development? What are the ways to encourage children to express their feelings? Discuss here.