Continuing our series on communicating with your kids, today let’s talk about their world.

LEARN THEIR WORLD

Our children live in a technology driven world and it is where they are most comfortable communicating. Learn to navigate their world and you’ll be surprised at what you can learn. Here’s more comments from other parents on how they communicate with their kids using the tools that they are familiar with.

Jennifer/Connect with your Teens Says:
I also try to keep up with the technology that they use so that I can talk to them the way that they want to talk. On the computer I will use IM with them instead of email, because teens hate email. On their cell phones, I text them, because I get a much quicker response than if I phone them.

I really think the key is to learn about their world.

jeanine Says:
well I have to make sure the my 13 y.o. keeps his phone charged up ! Other than that he stays pretty connected

Nita Says:
My kids are grown up, but we like to stay connected. I’m not very fast at texting, but I love that I can use my email client to send text messages from my computer.

Sandra Says:
My kids and I talk on the phone every day, no matter where either of us may be.

Abby Says:
I love that my teenage son now has an email account. He is gone at practice or some event all the time. If I need to ask him a question I often email it so I dont forget the next time he is home. Love it!

Elena Says:
I think texting is a great way to keep in touch with my 11 year old! It’s quick and easy and it works for us!

Linda Fish Says:
We like to talk on Facebook and call each other on our cell phones

she Says:
I’m the child; she’s the mother. I don’t have any kids yet. Although I’m 32, single and independent, speaking with my Mom is a daily priority. I have a Sprint cell phone that I use to keep in contact with her. Although she doesn’t live far, we are both busy people. She is retired but substitute teaching and I work full-time and do plays and musicals in my free time.

As I’ve gotten older, a cell phone allows us to keep in touch when I’m in between work and play practice. I put in my Blue Tooth and call my mom during travel. We get quality time that way that fits into both our schedules!

Alex Montana Says:
Texting seems to be the new communication tool for grown kids to keep their mom informed of their day. I can listen, be involved and never feel that I am intruding on their time. We send tons of texts each month.

Tanya W. Says:
Our 3 oldest girls have cell phones. I’m a long time Sprint subscriber and also have a great corporate discount plan that saves us quite a bit of money on our Family plan. So, naturally we have the extras which includes unlimited texting, Sprint TV,music & picture downloads, etc. I’ve already felt the financial burn from not being wise enough to have signed up for the plan in the first place, to the tune of making one unhappy teen fork over $75 to cover her text happy faux-pas. We’re a very close family that is always connected, especially when it comes to our common interests like techy stuff and travel, and even simple things like watching the Disney Channel together.My kids get a kick out of texting each other, Dear Hubs and I, and of course, their friends. Its funny, our texting capabilities have improved considerably thanks to those text happy girls of ours!

The Mom Jen Says:
I bought our daughter a cell phone (pay as you go) to take with her as she starts jr. high this year as well as while at dance class. Often she’s taken by other moms to dance events, so I like feeling we have a way to get in touch!

Betty Dennis Says:
My daughter is in college and it helps so much to know how to IM and tweet and text. We don’t have unlimited texting or minutes but we still keep the communication going.

shel Says:
My oldest son didn’t get a cell phone until he left home for college. I don’t know what we would have done without it, he called home so much those first few months while trying to adjust to being on his own for the first time my phone bill would have been outrageous.
We actually resisted cell phones for my older sons when everyone was first starting to get them. Now my daughter is 13 and we bought her one for her birthday. Payphones are nonexistent and I want to know where she is and who she’s with without the “I couldn’t call” excuse.
I’ve always tried to keep those communication lines open and flowing by sharing parts of my day with my children so they feel comfortable talking about their day with me, too. I think that’s part of why my son was so homesick those first few months away at college and called so frequently.

Aimee W. Says:
This may sound silly…but it works VERY well for us. If they could, my two boys (ages 11 & 14) would eat, sleep, and drink with their Playstation. In order to have a common interest, I practiced playing a few of their favorite games. So now, they sometimes let Mom play with them. I have found that they are more receptive to difficult conversation while playing a game — perhaps due to a lack of eye contact. Honestly, I don’t even care about the reason…I’m just glad I found a way to effectively communicate with boys!

THEIR WORLD ALSO INCLUDES THEIR FRIENDS

angie Says:
I am the mother of 6 all of who either have their own child, are going to college or are in highschool. The lines of communication are very important. I talk to my childrens peers, friends and those that are just acquaintance as well. I also talk to my children and ask questions some times they dont want to talk but if you ask the question i have found that they often come back and talk about whatever is on their minds. That is my way of keeping communication open

 
 
The How to Talk to Your Kids Series:
1. Eat Together
2. Individual Time
3. Talk About Anything Anywhere
4. Learn Their World
5. Start Them Young
6. Listen, Don’t Judge and Be Honest

7. Unique Conversation Starters
 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 10:56 am and is filed under children, family, parenting, Teens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.