March 1, 2022

Listening To Our Kids (Literally)

Listening To Our Kids (Literally)

When we practice “active listening” with our kids, it communicates: “I have time for you. You’re important to me.” So how do we fit that sort of concentrated parental attention in to our busy lives? Plus: Molly and Blaire interview their own kids!

True listening requires true presence. But in the household whirlwind that is life with little ones, sitting and eye-contacting and breathing deeply, in order to fully take in a monologue about "Dinosaur Train," has its challenges.

In this episode, we discuss

  • how giving our kids the gift of empathetic listening can benefit them throughout their lives
  • how to practice "active listening"
  • how what kids are saying, and their underlying feelings, may not always match... and how to tune in to that

Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode: 

Catherine Newman for Parents: 5 Easy Ways to Be A Better Listener to your Child

Dr. Michael Nichols: The Lost Art of Listening

Centers for Disease Control: Active Listening


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