Today’s families are more disconnected then ever. Even in a world that has more means of communication than at any other point in history, we struggle to connect with each other. Rick Peterson of Virginia Tech describes family communication as, “...the way verbal and non-verbal information is exchanged between family members... Communication involves the ability to pay attention to what others are thinking and feeling.” There are several serious challenges facing family communication today.
Too Busy
Patricia Homes on behalf of Ohio State University reports, “As the pace of life continues to accelerate, it can be more difficult to find time to share everyday feelings with family members. Concerns related to work, relationships, and money can add to the stress a family experiences. Communication is the process of giving and receiving information. That sounds simple enough, but communication is actually a very complicated process.”
Because communication is a complicated process, it takes time and attention to do it well. That makes busyness one of the key contributors to a lack of family communication. Learn to unplug from the day to foster good communication. This means learning to turn the phone off, stop checking the email, and relaxing from the daily grind. At first this can be difficult, but like any habit learning to unplug takes time and perseverance.
Eating together
Families today spend less and less time eating together. This may not seem like a big deal, but time spent around the dinner table can naturally foster communication. Sitting down to eat together is a good “excuse” to turn the phones, Gameboys, e-mail, and TV off. Dinners can contribute to increased communication.
Plan a family dinner at least once a week to start. Family dinners do not have to be an elaborate affair and can be as simple as pizza and a couple of soda bottles.
Traditions
Traditions and routines are lacking in families and this negatively impacts communication. According to healthychildren.org, “Every family should have activities that they enjoy together and that become a regular, predictable, and integral part of their lives. Some can be serious pursuits, like attending community functions or religious services as a family; others can be more lighthearted, like going fishing. Whatever they are, they can help bond a family together.”
Traditions and routines foster communication by fostering relationships within the family. Try something simple like a game night, movie night, or weekend excursions. Just like family dinners, traditions do not need to be complicated or extravagant. The important part is who you’re spending time with.
