Published in the May 11-25, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Nathaniel Campbell
Nathaniel Campbell
Positive Family Communication is a very important asset not just for teens but for all family members. Yet teens seem to struggle with this the most.
Positive Family Communication is an essential to having a strong family bond. Weak communication in a family can lead to an unstable family environment. But don’t worry, because healthy family communication is any easy thing to have with some new knowledge and skills.
First off, every family member’s opinion is important and should be heard. Respect should be given to all. How you treat a family member can be demonstrated through actions such as how you treat them and their belongings. Sensing when family members are in a bad mood is a useful tip, so you know when someone needs space or time alone.
Trust is necessary between family members. A study done at the University of California at Santa Cruz stated: “A staggering 93 percent of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cue.” Treating a family member as you would want to be treated is an important step.
There are many activities families can do to practice these skills. The “what if” game is played by asking members of the family about scenarios to hear reactions such as “What if I broke your favorite toy?” Another classic game is the trust fall, which is perfect for gaining trust. Watching a movie together and hosting a discussion afterwards is great way to see where similar interests are between the family members.
Activities where family members are working together, such as cooking or baking, will help with communication and everyone involved also gets a tasty snack. Arts and crafts will help you learn to have patience with your family members. Friendly competition such as bowling is a good activity to bond over. It is also good to share laughs with your family. Weekly or even daily use of these skills and activities will make sure your family’s communication is positive.
Nathaniel Campbell, age 16, is a sophomore at Sobrato High School and a member of the Morgan Hill Youth Action Council. His favorite things to do are sports and “chill.” He wrote this Developmental Assets column for Morgan Hill Life.
