Once upon a time, we lived in big joint families. There were uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters and relatives who were always visiting. To add to the equation, boundary walls of the houses were tiny enough to peek into the neighbor’s yard and engage in priceless chat sessions over a cup of tea.
Life now however is different. We’ve moved into nuclear setups and neither the uncles nor the aunts have time to visit. Cousins have moved to different states or countries and the houses have turned into buildings where we hardly know the family living next door.
Like any other change, this transition too has its pros and cons. There is independence, privacy, financial growth, etc., but there is also a little too much alone time – the overdose of seclusion. While these changed equations have impacted us all, the younger generation is facing some serious challenges. Kids are glued to their gadgets and their social skills have taken a major hit. No wonder, behavioral issues and problems like social anxiety & lack of confidence amongst kids are evident in every household.
How to mend the broken bridge??
How do we establish the broken channel of communication? How do we prepare these youngsters to gear up for the world? The lost art of communication … how do we revive it??
- Walk under the stars – start the tradition of post dinner walk with kids. These casual strolls have multiple benefits. Owing to gadget addiction, children these days are hardly engaging in any kind of physical activity. Moreover, too much screen time and life within closed walls are hampering the mental growth. These walks will ensure physical fitness and gradually, the time spent together will lead to discussions. Do not force your kids to talk, instead share anecdotes from your childhood. Eventually, they will open up and will start sharing their day.
- Go old school – bring back the old board games from the storeroom; plan gadget free game evenings on the weekends. Clean the spider webs off the carom board, pull out the chess board, find a pack of cards, see if you can grab the box of monopoly; rather than talking about careers, marks and competitions, treat your kids with a stress free evening. Instead of lecturing about the overindulgence of mobile phones and upcoming exams, give them the option of an easy fun time.
- Give the gift of a channel to express – most kids avoid any kind of verbal communication these days because they are hesitant. The lack of speaking opportunities has led to a silent generation that is way too scared of making mistakes. Help the young ones, overcome this hesitation, this social anxiety, this lack of confidence with the help of communication experts @ conversation club. They need an encouraging platform to express and to freely make mistakes. These crucial ingredients of expression are offered here at CC.
Remember the most important rule – communication cannot be forced! You cannot just impose the rules when it comes to interacting. Help your child naturally open up; offer the space, comfort and guidance to express and engage.