Communication in families flows between parents, between parents and children and between siblings. According to the University of Florida, "Effective family communication maintains positive, healthy relationships, helps solve problems and lowers stress." Communication among family members may suffer due to a combination issues, including illness, disability and anxiety. To increase communication, families can benefit from implementing a variety of communication exercises and activities.
Reading
Family reading time, sometimes considered an activity only for young children, improves communication among all ages. Motheread Inc., a program encouraging literacy communication between parents and children, suggests that reading provides a format for families "to discover more about themselves, their families and their communities." For young children, read a story and then ask questions about the story, the setting or the main character. With older children, have them read a story from one of their schoolbooks and discuss it. For teenagers, take turns reading magazine or newspaper articles aloud. Share your thoughts about the articles or take turns asking each other questions.
Games
To increase family communication, integrate enjoyable activities to reduce stress and encourage discussion. Institute a family game night and play cards or a board game appropriate for the youngest child in the family. Alternatively, go bowling or play miniature golf together. Playing charades encourages communication using signs and motions instead of words. Dr. Kathryn Reiter, family communication specialist and owner of Creative Case Management in Asheville, North Carolina, suggests that a relaxed atmosphere while playing games may encourage new communication during the activity, or the positive interaction may generate discussion at another time.
Starter Topics
For families unused to regular conversation or those working to create a new communication foundation, starter-topics may be helpful, suggests Dr. Kathryn Reiter of Creative Case Management. Create a list of topics, including questions about the best part of your day, the most difficult part of your day, when you helped someone, what you learned, what you wanted to do instead of work or school, or where you want to travel someday. Alternatively, instead of thought-provoking questions, create short questions about favorite colors, books or movies. Take turns selecting the topic or question and discuss it over dinner, on a walk or before going to bed.
Without Talking
Try communicating without words. Set aside a mealtime or a part of a day when the family communicates without speaking. Family members can point, pantomime, draw pictures, hum, sing or write things down, but are not allowed to talk. After the activity, discuss what was surprising about communicating without talking. Have everyone share what was easier than expected and what was harder than expected.
References
- University of Florida: Building a Strong and Resilient Family
- Motheread, Inc.
- Dr. Kathryn Reiter, Ph.D.; Creative Case Management; Asheville, NC
