Listening to children: improving communication with your child

Communication is crucial to children's development and wellbeing.  Parents who cannot communicate well with their children are more likely to resort to smacking or hitting their children, and may not be able to tell them what they need to know to keep safe.

This booklet gives practical advice to parents on listening to their children throughout their growth and development, enabling them to better understand their child's needs and to protect them from harm. It explains to parents the importance of taking the time to listen and talk to their children from day one, and advises how to meet these needs in normal daily life as well as in some particularly challenging situations such as divorce, death, illness, or bullying.

There are some general talking and listening tips that apply across the board, and solutions to problems that most parents will recognise.  It also includes the views of young children and teenagers on what is important when their parents listen to them.    

Also useful for any service or professional offering parenting advice to new parents as well as those caring for young children or teenagers.

Download a copy (below) or order your free printed copy by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@nspcc.org.uk. For multiple copies buy from NSPCC publications.