Talk-Friendly Settings
Some of the most meaningful conversations between parents and kids occur when the two parties aren't facing each other. Walking, fishing, and sitting on a bus provide three excellent opportunities for parents and children to share confidences. The car can also be an excellent place to talk--so long as the driver isn't distracted. ( A parent transporting a group of children will be privy to all sorts of revelations, since the back of the parent's head renders him or her invisible.)
You can discover which locations and activities spur conversation between you and your kids. It could be folding laundry together, working on a jigsaw puzzle, or raking leaves.
Specific places often trigger kids' memories. You may be at the zoo when your child recalls the feeding patterns of the class rabbit or, more puzzling, how one of the kids at school always forgets his homework. Go with the flow and listen attentively, whether what your child has to say is immediately relevant or not.
In the October issue of Highlights, Arizona provides tips that may encourage your riddle-and-joke-telling kids to talk about their own repertoires and efforts. Highlights' Science Letter about the wind and a Matching feature that shows the phases of the moon can encourage you and your children to discuss what you observe in nature. High Five's stories "A Cats' Tale" and "The Bunny Hop" offer fun ways to talk about pets, both real and pretend.
It's important for parents and kids to keep talking about topics big and small. Find the settings that work for you.