Communicating with your children and a giveaway!

 

I don't know about you but sometimes it is really difficult to have a meaningful conversation with your kids.  I've got a nine year old boy...communication is not his strong point!  I'm lucky if I get more than a one word answer, LOL.  There are a couple of things I have done to try and encourage communication between the two of us.  I learned quickly to not ask questions like, "How was school?" or "What's wrong?".  It is too easy for him to say "Nothing" and move on to playing video games :).  Instead I try to say things like, "Tell me all about your day" or "Tell me one thing you learned today".  Make it a command sentence instead of a question sentence, if I can remember to do it I get much more communication from him. Today I'm going to show you a communication journal that we have been using in our house.  The basic premise is we take turns writing in the journal, anything we want.  The journal stays on his bed and he can write in it at night before falling asleep and I write him back during the day. Not only is it a great tool for communicating but what a great keepsake to look back on later!

 

I've made two different covers which can be placed on the front of the journal, you can download them from google docs here.

 

GIVEAWAY:

One other great way to communicate with children is BOOKS!  I love using books that are relevant to whatever a particular child is going through.  I've got a great give away for all my readers of a new book written by Ricky Martin.  The book is called "Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars":

 

"Santiago’s biggest dream is to perform on stage.  But when he doesn’t get the lead role in the school play, he can’t help but doubt himself. Encouraged by his father’s inspiring words, Santiago rebuilds his confidence and finds that with passion and dedication, you can achieve amazing things beyond your wildest imagination." - Amazon

What a great message for our kiddos, despite everything they have been through they can still reach their biggest dreams.  I hope you win and can enjoy it with your kids!

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