One of those tools is communication. This is the process of transmitting and exchanging messages between a sender and a receiver. It means managing to transmit information, and it assumes that information is not only given, but also received. And when it comes to communicating effectively with a child, it must be recognized that this is a unique art, because its messages are often expressed in a code that needs to be deciphered.
Because it is so difficult, some parents feel frustrated that sometimes conversations lead nowhere.
-Where did you go?
-Outside
-What did you do?
—Nothing
Then those parents who try to be reasonable find out very quickly how exhausting such a dialogue can be. Some parents say: “I try to reason with my son, but he won’t listen to me.
A matter of communication
Learning to communicate effectively is challenging. One of the most difficult aspects is to go further and be able to discern the information that the child really wants to know. It is not easy, but you will surely become aware of the reality of the “questions behind the questions” that children ask.
For example, if you ask: Does that animal have claws? Most likely the question behind the question is that you want to know if that animal can harm you and hurt you. So the adult can take the opportunity to ratify him and assure him of the care that his parents have towards him.
Use simple explanations
Because young children think so literally, these phrases can inadvertently lead them to fear going to sleep or fear when someone goes away and does not return. And also expressions like these present God as someone who takes people away. Or that God makes the puppies die. Or that God has very bad intentions when he allows my bike to be stolen. Who would want to have faith and trust in such a God? Without any bad intention, we can be communicating to the child that God is evil. Far from that, what we want is to paint a good and merciful God in the child’s heart.
Just saying that the person died will be a better explanation. As frustrating as this may be, continue to calmly repeat that the person has died and will no longer be able to return. Better choose simple and simple explanations. On the other hand, the question behind the question that perhaps the child wants to know is to reaffirm and assure that he will not be left alone, and that his parents will not abandon him.