A child with the ability to communicate effectively with words, gestures and body language will not only be able to express feelings, problems and needs, but also have the self-esteem to develop and maintain relationships at home and at school, according to the University of Delaware's Families Matter website. Give children the knowledge and techniques to improve communication skills so they can convey clear messages and listen effectively to hold productive conversations with adults and peers.
Step 1
Teach your child to improve listening skills to ensure he understands the other party's message before responding. The University of Delaware's Families Matter website recommends such active listening habits as maintaining eye contact, listening politely without interrupting, eliminating distractions during the conversation and asking questions to clarify main points.
Step 2
Practice speaking clearly with your child so she'll learn how to express her thoughts so they're immediately understandable. University of Delaware's Families Matter website suggests telling her to use "I" statements, such as "I was angry when he wouldn't let me watch television," so she'll be able to get her point across and comes to terms with her feelings.
Step 3
Give your child ways to keep conversations going to make him a more interesting conversationalist. Focus Adolescent Services, a website designed to provide resources for at-risk teens and their families, recommends teaching children to ask open-ended questions or restate a point and ask the other party to discuss it in depth.
Step 4
Discuss non-verbal communication cues with your child so she'll be able to evaluate what the other party is feeling, and communicate her feelings as well. Helpguide.org advocates evaluating facial expressions to express feelings, using animated gestures or touch to emphasize a point and using posture--such as leaning forward or folding your arms--to show interest or disinterest.
Step 5
Help your child increase her vocabulary and understanding of slang and idioms--non-literal expressions, such as "it was raining cats and dogs"--so she'll be able to understand and contribute to conversations. KidsHealth notes that as children get older, they'll be required to comprehend more abstract messages in order to communicate effectively.
Tips and Warnings
- Engage in role-playing exercises if your child has difficulty talking to friends or adults. If he's unable to ask teachers for help with assignments or carry on a conversation with a classmate, for instance, rehearse with him until he has a set of questions, responses and statements memorized and feels comfortable enough to communicate more when you're not around.
- Speak to a school counselor or physician if your child persistently has trouble expressing herself or comprehending the spoken or written word, since communication problems may indicate an underlying disability that affects speech and language. KidsHealth notes that teachers, school psychologists or doctors can perform speech and hearing evaluations and standardized tests and develop a treatment plan if they discover a medical, psychological or behavioral cause.
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