What to do when communication breaks down

In the week that Jane and Bettina launch their new book How To Have Incredible Conversations With Your Child, this podcast hones in on what to do when communication breaks down. They start by describing (1:10) a model from a book by Sheila Heen and colleagues which highlights three layers of difficult conversations; the ‘what happened’ conversation, the feelings conversation and the identity conversation. They discuss a question from a parent whose son shuts his parents out of conversation (8:43). A parent is concerned about her daughter who is anxious about exams prompting them to discuss how hard it is for parents and young people to hold the balance between pushing themselves to do the best they can and looking after themselves (15:27). They tackle the tricky issue of young people, social media and the potential impact on friendships and social integration if a parent holds firm on not allowing their child to enter that world at an early age (28:25). Lastly we offer ideas for what parents could try if they think their child is using inappropriate strategies to cope in life, such as drugs and alcohol (38:43).