Language Awareness – Be Creative

Be Creative and use your language positively to state your concerns and create positive options.

Sleep Over – an example

When your school aged child would like to go for a sleep over, and you are not very comfortable with… instead of saying NO out right without any explaining (which you know will cause a commotion within the household) why not be creative with your NO?

This is what you can do:

• Respect your child’s decision and suggestions.
• Ask calmly the appropriate questions that all parents should.
• Give clearly the reasons why you don’t feel great about this suggestion – which means a gentle NO!

This is what you can expect:

• Child being disappointed and  projects un-favourable language.
• Child will persist, as they often do. Wouldn’t you? This is a natural persistence that drives them forward, they are being creative and try to come up with options for you to consider, and try to win the negotiation – you ought to encourage that.

What can you then do?

• You can re-enforce your reasons as to why you do not think the sleep over is a good idea.
• Get your child to think about your concerns and provide feedback.
• Offer a compromise – like how about your child spend the day at their friend’s place and you will pick him or her up at night? This way, you child will still have the quality time with the friend.
• Give them time to think about it and talk it through with their friends.

What you need to do:

• Be firm with your decision as boundaries are important.
• Always tell your child the decision is based on respect and love.
• Request that your child consider the compromise.

What will your child learn from this exercise?

• Your decision was made with clam and careful consideration.
• Your decision was also made with love and respect.
• You are open to consider their opinion and create a win-win situation.
• Their opinion is respected!

Be creative and positive so there is less of a power struggle!

Happy being Creative in communicating!!

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