--- title: '09. Improving communication' url: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/improving-communication' markdown: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/improving-communication.md' date: '2026-03-19' description: 'Active listening: It is helpful to explain to your children that it is normal to worry when facing challenges and uncertainty. You can listen to your children’s worries and encourage them to ask questions, check that you have understood them, and try to answer questions with factual information/examples. Of course, you may not have all the answers. It is helpful to acknowledge when you do not know the answer, then try to find some answers together, or tell them what is being done by others to find the answer. Address misinformation: It’s a good idea to limit children’s exposure to news and social media as they might unnecessarily increase anxiety. You can watch the news and social media together, so that you can help them interpret the news with terms they understand, correct misinformation, and discuss unhelpful behaviours they might see in others. Modelling: Try to discuss with your children when you are calm, to model the behaviour you’d like them to have. Maintaining a predictable routine also helps them feel safe.' taxonomy: category: - Toolkit tag: - 'Home Life' - 'Calming Techniques' type: - Video partner: - KCL-IOPPN --- # How to communicate better with your child [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) [ ![King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/06.about-us/03.partners/kings-college-londons-institute-of-psychiatry-psychology-and-neuroscience/kcl-ioppn.jpg) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/partners/kings-college-londons-institute-of-psychiatry-psychology-and-neuroscience "Content by King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience") Duration: 0h 0m 49s Published: May 2020 **Active listening**: It is helpful to explain to your children that it is normal to worry when facing challenges and uncertainty. You can listen to your children’s worries and encourage them to ask questions, check that you have understood them, and try to answer questions with factual information/examples. Of course, you may not have all the answers. It is helpful to acknowledge when you do not know the answer, then try to find some answers together, or tell them what is being done by others to find the answer. **Address misinformation**: It’s a good idea to limit children’s exposure to news and social media as they might unnecessarily increase anxiety. You can watch the news and social media together, so that you can help them interpret the news with terms they understand, correct misinformation, and discuss unhelpful behaviours they might see in others. **Modelling**: Try to discuss with your children when you are calm, to model the behaviour you’d like them to have. Maintaining a predictable routine also helps them feel safe. --- Was this helpful? 0 0 Share: [ Previous Post](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/coping-with-anxiety) [Next Post ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/managing-negative-feelings) #### Other Related Posts: ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/why-wont-my-child-talk-to-me/how-to-help-an-anxious-child.jpg) ### Video: Why won't my child talk to me? [Video: Why won't my child talk to me?](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/why-wont-my-child-talk-to-me) How do I get a child who will not communicate their needs and only answers when asked a question to open up? [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/5-family-wellness-tips-that-actually-work/resilience.webp) ### Video: 5 Family Wellness tips that actually work [Video: 5 Family Wellness tips that actually work](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/5-family-wellness-tips-that-actually-work) Global Wellness Day is a great time to reflect on how we can support our own well-being and that of our kids. This video encourages families of all shapes… [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/03.home-life/how-to-help-your-child-sleep/sian%20sleep.png) ### Video: How to help your child sleep [Video: How to help your child sleep](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/how-to-help-your-child-sleep) This film sees Dr Sian Williams give parents and carers with a child who is struggling to sleep. [ Anxiety ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Anxiety) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Families under Pressure](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure.md) - Previous: [11. Managing Negative Feelings](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/managing-negative-feelings.md) - Next: [10. Coping with anxiety](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/families-under-pressure/coping-with-anxiety.md)