Prioritize Connection and Communication

CONNECTION COMES FIRST

While academic performance is important, building a strong and communicative relationship with your child is even more important.

One way to do this is by setting aside 10–20 minutes each day just to catch up or talk about anything. These short, screen-free conversations can have a strong positive impact on your relationship with your child and make them feel more comfortable opening up to you about harder topics or struggles in the future.

GIVE THEM TIME

School can be draining and difficult. Asking, "How was your day?" does not always make them want to engage in a conversation with you.

Give them time to wind down and reset, maybe even get in some productive homework time, before trying to bombard them with questions.

Instead of asking more general questions like, "How was school?" try something like:

●       "What made you smile today?"

●       "What was the hardest part of your day?"

●       "Who did you spend time with today?"

●       "What's something you're looking forward to tomorrow?"

ASK YOURSELF THIS

Instead of asking yourself why they never come to you for anything or why they are so closed off, ask yourself:

What effort am I making to build a relationship with them?

If they do not want to engage in small daily conversations with you, how will they ever be willing to come to you for challenging conversations?

Small conversations now can create the trust needed for bigger conversations later.