Here Are Four Methods That Can Improve Communication With Your Young-Adult Children

Thanks to new technologies, having a meeting in New York while you are sitting at a cafe in Singapore is no big deal these days. The world is definitely becoming a smaller place. Even traveling from one place to another might get easier and less time consuming with the way technology is progressing. Connecting with new people and even finding old ones have become a cakewalk now. But as our virtual connections are increasing, more and more people are realizing that it is taking away the need to connect in real life, especially the younger generation with earbuds in their ears and their eyes glued to the screen of their phones. Naturally, parents are constantly worried about their children, and sometimes, it becomes a challenge to convey their concerns to their kids. Communication is especially difficult for kids who are in their 20s as they are constantly busy or on their phones.  As a parent, do you always communicate well with them? Here are a few tips that can help.

Respect The Fact That They Might Not Always Feel Chatty

When your kids leave home for college, they’re most likely homesick and highly dependent on you in the beginning, more so when it comes to making major decisions like which subjects to choose, where to live, how to open bank accounts, and many other “adult” things. However, with time, there might be a shift in the pattern in which they communicate. When they form their own circle of friends and get used to their college life, the frequency of calls and messages might drop. You need to accept this and move on but you should also let your children know that you are there to listen to them whenever they need your guidance or advice. It is also necessary to send them the message that the empty nest syndrome has not hit you too hard. Don’t fret if the child doesn’t call for a long period. But if you sense something is amiss, send them a quick text asking if everything is alright.

Set A Limit For Communicating With Them Over The Internet

Just because technology has made it easier for us to message anyone at any time doesn’t mean that you need to overwhelm your children with tons of messages, all sent with the best of intentions. Sometimes, you need to let them do their thing without instructing them as to what to do. They are still finding their own ways and often fumbling for sure, but you need to know that’s how they learn best. If you start sending too many emails, your child might lose interest and not even notice the ones that are critical. So choose wisely as to which messages are important enough to send them.

Learn To Text

Most youngsters love to text, and they prefer this mode of communication over talking. Plus, given the various instant messaging platforms available today, communication is way easier because messaging is possible wherever you are. Calling is fine but you wouldn’t want to annoy your children with constant calls. If you really want to hear their voice, schedule a day in the week for a phone call with them. Otherwise, learn how to text or use an instant messaging app to communicate with them.

Think Again Before Befriending Them On Facebook

Facebook is still a raging favorite among the 20-something youth. The Facebook profile of each person shows their likes, dislikes, and their friends. The things they share usually show their persona. Be sensible if you do become friends with your children and think twice before posting some cringe-worthy comment on their profile. Whatever embarrassing or affectionate comments you want to post should be done in private and not on social media platforms. Also, if you befriend their friends or their partners, be sensitive about your comments. You should also use similar judgment if you want to share something on your wall, keeping in mind that his or her friends can see it.

The golden rule of parenting is to teach by being a role model and not by preaching. If your child has seen you on the phone or laptop almost always and if you have taken long calls even when they are around, they will think it is okay to do so. When they do the same in front of you, it is not right to blame them for being addicted to their phones. So be very careful about how you are handling your digital behaviour. Let your children be free enough to explore the world by themselves but also make sure that you communicate enough to show that you still care about them.