If you think your kids’ clothes are too weird and their music is too loud, and, although they’re speaking English, you can’t understand a word — you might be on the wrong side of a generation gap. In order to cross the distance you need to get in touch with yourself when you were their age. It helps to remember how much you wanted to be understood by your parents when you were coming of age. To know the reasons as to why s / he is behaving the way they are, it can best be understood by remembering how you behaved at their age.
Besides you don’t have to like — or even understand — your kids’ tastes. What’s important is that you make an honest effort to try and understand them by recollecting how you behaved, felt and reacted when you were their age. So if you are wondering how to bridge the generation gap between Parents and Children? Then here are some things that can help you to hold up and create a conversation with your child which yields results that you seek.
Effective Communication
According to the American Psychological Association communicating with children on a regular basis can take your a long way in bridging the gap between Parents and Children. Listening and talking are essential elements for a healthy Parent – child relationship. Here are some things you can do:
Be up to date with the current trends
If you want to bridge the communication gap with your child you need to speak their language. So you need to be up to date with the current trends of your child’s generation right from slang, music, movies, and clothes to social networking. You also need to be up to date with today’s technology in order to monitor your child’s on line presence. This will help your child to make wise choices on the Internet and beyond.
Avoid Comparisons
As a parent you need to accept the fact that things have changed in comparison to how things used to be back when you were there age. Try not to ask your child to conform to old models of thinking rather explain to them how to distinguish between what is right and wrong. These things will never undergo change even if everything else changes.
Be Accepting
Parents should be flexible in their ideas and more accepting about change. They should be able to adapt to the changing times. They need to remember that parenting is not an exact science, meaning that what works for one child may not work for another.
Know the consequences of your actions
From a little poem you will be able to figure out how your actions can affect your child in the long run:
“If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.
If a child lives with recognition, he learns it is good to have a goal.
If a child lives with honesty he learns what truth is.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him.
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live to love and be loved.” - Anonymous
So if you follow these simple tips you will see a tremendous change in his / her attitude towards you, therefore your child will be more open to what you have to say with acceptance and understanding nonetheless.