FAMILY CONVERSATION

Conversation is food for the ear.

—Trinidadian Proverb

How are our family conversations these days? Not the hasty exchanges we have to determine the whereabouts of socks or the time of dinner, but the occasions when we really listen to one another, respond to, challenge, and enlighten each other.

We can start when our children first learn to talk, encouraging them to express themselves and share their observations of the world. Later on, our dinner-table topics might touch on politics, sports, books, school and community news, popular culture—anything that appeals to us. Through constant “quality talk,†our children will gain confidence in their ability to articulate themselves and to think critically—valuable skills that will aid them throughout life. Let’s remember not to be too harsh or judgmental with our children; they have to feel home is a safe place to make themselves heard.

Call to Action:  On this day, I will take time to talk to my child about something that is important to her.