The sayings “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” and “Actions speak louder than words” convey the importance of nonverbal communication in parenting. As children develop language skills, they often pay more attention to your nonverbal cues than to the words you say. Parents may not even be aware that they are communicating one thing with their behavior and a completely different thing with their words.

The act of becoming a parent does not come with an instruction book on the skills needed to raise that child. Raising healthy, successful children requires parents to be experts on how best to interact with their child. This introduction to basic interaction skills will provide you with the guidelines you need to get your child on the path to success.

An “I” message is a style of communication that focuses on the feelings or beliefs of the speaker rather than thoughts and characteristics that the speaker attributes to the listener. “I” messages allow you to tell children you want them to change their behavior, without blaming them.
When using “I” messages always begin the statement with “I” not with “you”.

Yes, even when angry, parents can learn to control their behavior by actively practicing techniques like taking deep breaths, stepping away from the situation momentarily, using “I” statements to communicate calmly, identifying triggers, and actively working to manage their emotions rather than reacting impulsively; this is crucial for positive parenting and creating a healthy home environment.