How To Listen To Kids

Candy Family Communications

I’ll be the first to admit that often I don’t really listen to my kids. In the mornings they’ll be chirping away merrily about this and that while I prepare sandwiches, make breakfast, look for clothes and add to the shopping list, usually all at the same time. When I’m able to make a conscious effort to really listen to them, sometimes what I hear surprises me.

This morning my second born son, aged seven, forgot to take his violin to school despite being reminded in the morning.

“Oh dear, how many times did I ask you if you’d put the violin in the car?”

I irritatingly asked.

Poor kid, he already felt bad about it and I needn’t have made him feel worse. So I couldn’t argue when he replied:

“Twice, but I didn’t hear you.”

My four year old has an interesting way of thinking too and is showing an early grasp of maths since she loves to count with her fingers. The other day someone asked what time it is and I said it was three thirty.
“How much is thirty?” she asked.

“Well,” I stupidly explained, “thirty minutes is half an hour so it’s half past three.”

“No!” She bellowed, holding her tiny paws in the air and clearly infuriated with this answer.

“How many is it in fingers?”

Yes, it’s definitely time for me to listen more closely and think like a kid myself.

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Good luck with all your plans!