Communicating with kids in times of stress (part 3 of 3)

Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series on intentional communication, a way of communicating that deliberately fosters social and emotional skill development. The content was assembled by Barb Reiter, prevention specialist for Jefferson County, and sourced by Parenting Montana.

Using “I” Messages

The purpose of communication is to deliver a message in a way that it can be received. It is more important to deliver less information in a way that your child can understand, than to deliver all the information you wanted all at the same time. Using “I” statements allows your child to receive the information without raising defenses.