How to be a More Effective Parent

Listen carefully and completely. Stop what you are doing, look him/her in the eyes as he/she speaks and give him/her your full attention. Mac Bledsoe of Parenting with Dignity suggests these key words and phrases that parents can use to be effective listeners. They are: "Oh?", "Really?", "Wow!", "Uuummm!", "I didn't know you felt like that!" and "Tell me more." Sometimes, a child is not seeking a parent’s advice, but rather simply looking for someone to listen. This is when a parent needs to keep silent and just listen.