Some problems with communication can happen even when you know someone very well. This is pretty common. Because we know someone so well, we may make assumptions about what they might say in a particular situation. For example, if we borrowed a sibling’s stuff without asking, we might assume that they would be fine with it.
To keep little problems from turning into blowups, there are several steps that you – as a teen or as a parent- can take to help communication.
- Use “I Messages”
- Avoid problematic communication
- Get S*M*A*R*T
- For parents: Use negotiation
Family Communication
Problems that cause conflicts in families do not have to become large problems. Because family members can push your buttons more than anyone else, the tone we use or the things we say can easily cause a bigger problem.
Watch the following video with Matt, his brother, and father. Pay close attention to what is being said and how it is being said. Think about what can be done to resolve the problem without making things worse.
Dealing with Conflicts with Siblings and Parents
Now that you know the situation, think about the steps that Matt could take to resolve this problem.
The important questions to consider are:
- What verbal cues did you notice?
- What nonverbal cues did you notice?
- What could you do differently?
space
Watch how Matt and his Dad dealt with their problem here. What did they do well? What could they do better?