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Communication with kids….Moms everywhere want to be able to talk with their kids…and they want their kids to talk to them. I know that every child is different…but I have found that sometimes as kids get older…they may not want to talk a lot with their parents as much.
So how can you improve communication with kids? Writing letters has been a great way for me to let my kids know they are loved. I like using notebooks to write letters back and forth with my kids.
I believe most intentional moms want their children to grow up to be happy, responsible people! One way to make that happen is to improve communication with kids NOW….while they are still in our home!
One of our favorite ways to communicate as a family is with dinner conversation cards. We don’t get to them every evening…but when we all eat together it is fun to see what people are thinking about. (Try searching for dinner conversation cards on Pinterest!)
Good communication with kids is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately (maybe it comes with having teenagers!) But even as a mom who is at home with her children, I don’t always sit down and have a one-on-one chat with my kids…and then the mom guilt sets in!
Honestly, I’ve realized over the past several years that I’m not the best communicator! BUT…I have been making a conscious effort to be better! And one way that I enjoy communicating is by writing!
To help me communicate better with my daughters…I got some notebooks…one for each of them. My idea was these notebooks would go back and forth between us. We could share our thoughts, feelings, and struggles. And they would be something my daughters could go back and read and remember how much their mom loves them.
It has been so sweet and often touching to get a glimpse into my children’s thoughts through these notebooks. They share things differently in writing than they do verbally…and I probably do as well! Communication with kids can be improved with writing back and forth.
To be honest…I have written more than my daughters…and that’s ok with me. Because I want them to have a good record of how much I love them. If I feel like I need to write to them… I go get the notebook from their room and write…even if it is “supposed” to be there turn.
With busy schedules It can be hard to spend time with teenagers and older kids…when I’m feeling a little disconnected…writing in our notebooks can help bring us back together.
When Do I Write to my Kids?
- Notebooks provide opportunities to communicate anytime…however, I always make sure I write something at the beginning of a school year. I want to encourage and get them excited for what is coming up…especially if I know they will be facing some challenging situations or classes…it’s a great time to let them know that I believe in them and I know that they can do hard things!
- I also like to write after they have done something awesome…whether that is a piano recital or being extra nice to one of their siblings. Writing after doing something that isn’t obvious to most people can be especially meaningful.
- I try to write when they accomplished something that was hard or took a lot of effort. It’s always nice to be noticed after giving your all to a project.
- These notebooks have also been useful for me after we have had an argument. I can express my love to them…possibly before they are ready to get a hug from me!
We all want to have happy families. I love our notebooks as another way to communicate… they are also a lot like a journal. It’s fun to go back and read things we wrote a year ago (or more) and reflect on what was going on or what we were struggling with!
Make it Happen!
- Get some notebooks…Walmart, Amazon, or an office supply store
- Write a letter to your child on the first page letting them know how much you love them. Explain that you want this notebook to be a way for the two of you to share ideas, thoughts and feelings. Encourage them to write back to you.
- Don’t worry if they don’t write back right away…or at all! I have one daughter who is “chatty”…and another who rarely writes. I still think it’s valuable even if I’m the only one writing (as long as I’m not being too preachy!)
Share Your Ideas on Communication with Kids!
How do you keep the communication open in your family? Do you have any special traditions or habits that make communication with kids easier?
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5 comments on “Better Communication with Kids…With Notebooks”
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This is such a great idea! I love that you are passing notes with your kiddos, and allowing them to put their thoughts and feeling down on paper.
Love this idea tho sadly all my kids are gone now, flown the coop! But I have pinned it so others can know about it!
Nice idea!
I love to write. It’s been a passion since childhood. My daughter caught the bug too. Using a notebook to capture thoughts is a great idea. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
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