Communicating effectively with children can be challenging. The author reflects on their mother’s advice, emphasizing the importance of trust in parental guidance. They question how well their own kids, Conrad and Dashiell, understand their words. Dr. Wendy Mogel advises that parents should use simple language that acknowledges children’s feelings while maintaining clear rules. She warns against undermining authority by adding qualifiers like “okay?” which may lead kids to resist following directions. The article concludes with a list of key phrases parents should use when speaking to their children.
https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/positive/what-to-say-to-kids
