Download Communicating Effectively With Your Teen

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Communicating Effectively With
Your Teen
Parents and Teens can
Effectively Communicate
Presented by: Judy Valeski and Sheila Jones
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OBJECTIVES
1. To learn the importance of communicating with your teen
2. Define effective communication
3. To learn ways to enhance parent- teen communication
4. Skills for effective communication lines open (positive
and negative communication)
5. Examples
1. Drama Triangle
2. How to handle difficult disagreements
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The task of shaping your
teenager’s life is a very personal
and painstaking one. Learning
how to communicate effectively
with your adolescent takes skill
that requires practice and
modeling.
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Why is communication so important during
the teenage years?
Communicating understandingly with your teen,
helps him/her become a responsible and
independent adult.
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Communication Facts
93% of communication is Non-verbal communication
You must hear something 3 times before remembering it.
When hearing a contradictive message we have a tendency to believe the nonverbal hints we receive.
Touch is the most direct form of communication. For this reason, it could also
be seen as a threat.
65% of what we learn about another person when communicating is by
observing non-verbal body language.
83% of adults are visual learners
7% of communication is what you say (words), 38% is how you say it (voice
quality), and 55% is non-verbal (body movements) (UCLA study).
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What is Effective Communication?
Effective communication occurs when the person
sending the message makes it clear and easy to
understand, and the person on the receiving end
understands the message as the sender intended.
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Parents Can Reduce Communication
Problems By…
Talking more often, and
Taking extra time to share important
messages
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Ways To Enhance Parent-Teen
Communication
Remember: Trust is hard to build if there is fear
Keep communication lines open
Have frank and open discussions
Be clear and calm, but firm
Honesty and openness work best
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Skills for Effective Communication
Listen & Understand the Issue/point-of-view
Assure confidentiality to build trust
Share alternatives and options
Be clear and calm
Be able to say “I don’t Know.”
Respect their opinions
Accept & Support your teen
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Remember: 93% of communication is non-verbal
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•Drama Triangle
•Handling disagreements
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DRAMA TRIANGLE
A
B
C
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What to do about disagreements that
won't go away…The “Messy” Room!
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You’re probably pretty tired of hearing this by now,
but there’s really no way around it: it’s up to you to
learn and model the communication skills that you
want to teach your teens.