Many parents and guardians fail to recognise how every word, facial expression, gesture or action gives the child a message about their self-worth. Michael explains how important it is to acknowledge your influence over children through your communications with them and how easily it can be to casually damage a child’s self-esteem. 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS 

Everything a parent does including tone of voice, cadence, silence, body language and use of eye contact all send a form of communication to children. 
Misunderstandings in the parent-child relationship are common. It is easy for a child to not only attach far greater relevance to an action taken by the parent but to also overestimate their own involvement in those actions.  
Parents often minimise the effect of their own actions on their children by refusing to acknowledge the deep effects such actions can have.
Always bear in mind non-verbal communication when conveying your point and check how the message has been received especially involving children who can very easily misunderstand. 

 
BEST MOMENTS 
‘Communication between parents and children is complex and confusing because even when parents are conscious of exactly the message they want to send, often this is not the message picked up by the child.’ 
‘It is so easy to crush a person's dreams by careless words and gestures. Sometimes this is done by loved ones who assume they know what is best for you consciously intend to burst your bubble because they believe your dreams are never going to become manifest.’
‘When placed in the witness box, describing serious events related to a child’s welfare, your facial expressions naturally need to reflect your solemn and sincere contemplation in regard to their safety and well-being.’ 
CONTACT METHOD
familycourtcoaching@gmail.com
Instagram: michael240656
Linkedin
ABOUT THE HOST
Michael Watson is a qualified social worker and author with over thirty years of experience working with children and families. As an expert in family court, Michael is in a key position to assist, advise, and coach parents through their private law family proceedings and provide them with the information and skills to represent themselves successfully in court. His two books, ‘How to Represent Yourself in Family Court’, and ‘FAMILY COURT: Giving Evidence In Family Court’, provide parents with a clearer understanding of family court proceedings, legislation, and parenting skills.