Effective parent/child communication is worth the effort

Listen. Talk. Hear. Respond. Empathize. Communicate.

What do these terms have in common?

Parents. Children. Relationships. Practice. Skill. Time.

That's right. Communication takes time. It takes two people. It takes listening and talking. It takes practice and skill.

If that sounds like a big investment, why bother? Who needs the frustration? Who can afford the time to listen or the effort required to practice and develop effective communication skills?

Hopefully, parents will be the first to raise their hands.

Effective communication helps parents build bonds with their child. It also builds...