How To Develop and Improve Family Communications

Communication starts at home. Children get better literacy wherever they are, but most is learned from conversations at home. Here are ways to improve family communication and language literacy.

1. Engage in family conversations as if it were a normal routine. The family will soon find out there are a lot of things to talk about at home.
2. Talk about the food. It is great to start a socially healthy day by talking to the kids while they are eating their breakfast. Talk about what’s on the menu for the day.
3. Talk about home chores and the pets.
4. Talk about the neighbors. This will make everyone more conscious of the community they are in. It also opens up the door to learn good social values and morals.
5. Talk about money with kids. This sensitive topic could give important spending lessons to the kids.
6. When kids are getting ready for bed, talk about their hygiene. You can also bring up topics like what their plans are for the next day.
7. Read stories. Read a good book to your kids or let them read one for you. Then share your thoughts and feelings about the book. The best book would be one that everybody could relate to.
8. Join in the game when kids are playing.
9. Spend a few minutes every day talking about something in the news. This will help expand children’s view of the world.
10. Talk about favorite TV programs.
11. At the supermarket, talk about what you’re buying and why.
12. Talk about school. Tackle school events, the teachers, and/or your kids’ friends at school.
13. Parents can do homework with their children. Help kids in their daily academic struggles. It could be as easy as checking your kids’ work after they are done.
14. Encourage family members to talk about their day. Share positive as well as negative experiences.
15. Mom and Dad could share stories that happened to them when they were young. This will make the kids interested and more open to their personal experiences.

These everyday routines are a great opportunity to talk with children and/or parents, as it is in the quality of everyday life that the developing child and grownup are afforded many important opportunities to develop better communication skills. When engaging in interesting and meaningful conversations, the whole family acquires language skill, vocabulary, and a general knowledge about the world they are in; but best of all, it keeps the family intact.