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Communicating With Your Middle-Schooler

by Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D.

communicating

  • LISTEN TO BE HEARD. Acknowledge your parents' point of view on an issue and they'll be more likely to listen to your point of view. In the end, it will help you better understand each other and think of creative solutions and compromises.

  • PLAN AHEAD. Think about what your parents will object to and how you will answer them. Try to come up with alternative solutions to a problem you're having instead of just one solution and present them to your parents. They'll be impressed.

  • BE POLITE. It's simple but it's true. If you yell and scream, it will remind your parents of when you were a little kid, and they'll probably treat you that way. If you're polite, they'll probably pay more attention to your opinions. Politeness rules.

  • JUST SAY IT. All communication involves taking risks. Even though it may be hard, sometimes the best thing you can do when you have a problem is to gather your courage up and talk about it.

  • WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE. Sometimes your facial expressions and posture say more to the people you're talking to than the words you use. Think about what you say -- and how you say it.
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