Nowadays, effective parent-child communication is crucial to the physical and mental development of children. This article aims to help parents understand how to communicate more effectively with their children through various psychological theories, tools, and methods. Good communication not only fosters children's emotional development but also helps them to build healthy relationships and values.   The Impact of Communication Styles Many parents adopt authoritarian or permissive communication styles, which can negatively affect their children's mental health. Authoritarian communication may make children feel oppressed and develop rebellious attitudes, while permissive communication can result in a lack of boundaries, obstructing children from learning healthy patterns of love and being loved. These poor communication styles not only harm children's self-esteem but also bring a negative impact to their social skills, making interactions with others difficult.   According to psychological research, effective parent-child communication should include respect and understanding. When parents communicate with their children, they should focus more on the feelings and needs of their kids rather than solely imposing their own ideas. This approach helps children to build confidence and promote their emotional and intellectual development.   Age and Cognitive Development Children of different ages show significant differences in cognitive and emotional development. Many parents often use a preaching style when communicating with their children, attempting to persuade them through logic. However, psychological research indicates that a child's prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until around the age of five or six, which makes it difficult for them to understand abstract concepts and reasoning. As a result, even if parents explain their rationales, children may not fully understand and fulfill related tasks.   Parents often believe that their children are disrespectful or disobedient in this situation but that is not the truth. In fact, children simply cannot understand what adults are trying to deliver. Parents should be alert to that instead of emphasizing verbal explanations. It is more effective to guide their children through examples. Demonstrating appropriate behaviors and values through actions is often more impactful than mere verbal instructions.   Technology and Patience Technological advancement speeds up communications between people but weakens our patience to communication. When communicating with children, parents often expect immediate results but become increasingly impatient to the responses children are giving. When children are comparatively slow in following instructions, parents may rush and criticize them, which makes children anxious and may even lead to their procrastination.   Erikson's research indicates that after the age of six, the development of self-esteem and a sense of competence is crucial for children's psychological growth. If parents disregard their children's emotions and thoughts during communication, children may feel disrespected and such negative experiences may intensify their rebellion toward parents and make them self-centred.   Ways to Foster Positive Parent-Child Relationships To make parent-child communications more effective, parents may follow these tips: Active Listening: Give children enough time and space to express their thoughts and feelings. This not only makes children feel valued but also enhances their expressive abilities. Use Simple and Clear Language: Based on children’s age and ability to understand, parents should use simple terms and sentences to convey ideas instead of complex reasoning and abstract concepts. Practice what you Preach: Family members' behaviors have a profound impact on children. By demonstrating correct behaviors and values, parents can guide their children more effectively. Be Patient: Provide sufficient patience and support in children's learning and growth processes, allowing them to learn from mistakes rather than rushing and criticizing. Emotional Support: Pay attention to children’s emotional needs when communicating with them to give them feelings safe and loved, which is essential for building a strong parent-child relationship.   In summary, effective parent-child communication is crucial for children's physical and mental development. By understanding children's developmental needs and adopting suitable communication methods, parents can foster children’s healthy growth and help them establish positive values and relationships.   Dr. Ringle Leung Director of HealthyMind Parents Academy Ringle is a positive parenting education specialist and a guest lecturer at Caritas Institute of Higher Education, holding a Master’s degree in Family Education and a Doctorate in Education. Over the years, Ringle has provided positive education courses and activities to more than 2,000 schools and organizations, reaching over 40,000 families. He has also appeared on various media platforms to deliver parenting talks to the public.

  In today's education landscape, children are not limited to textbook learning—their holistic development is gaining growing importance. We hope parents can enjoy learning in nature together with their kids in daily life, thereby promoting their well-being comprehensively. Nature offers a diverse learning platform, and also serves as an excellent space for enhancing children's emotional resonance and social interaction. We encourage parents to approach this from the perspective of strengthening their child’s social emotional learning, exploring nature together while learning how to observe, interact with, and appreciate the environment. Whether it is playing in a park or exploring the countryside, these activities provide children with opportunities to build self-awareness, self-management and social skills, while also deepening the bonding between parents and children. Let’s take a look at how we can integrate the five core competencies of social emotional learning into nature education.   Self-awareness The natural environment offers a dynamic and enriching setting where parents and children can learn self-perception through the changes in the environment. As children wander through nature and observe the changing seasons, their inner world will be connected and they will become aware of their own emotional responses to these natural shifts. Parents can further guide children to listen to their own heartbeat and breath through simple breathing exercises, so that children can be more aware of their physical state. These are valuable practices in developing self-awareness.   Self-management Children need to learn how to manage their behaviours to adapt to different environments and situations when exploring the nature. For example, during hands-on harvesting activities, children have to control their excitement, listen to others' instructions or opinions, and collaborate to complete tasks. This is not only an opportunity to learn from nature, but also a practical exercise in regulating emotions and behaviors within a team setting.   Social Awareness Activities in nature often require teamwork, providing children with opportunities to observe and understand the emotions and behaviors of others. Take hiking as an example, when children notice their peers showing signs of exhaustion, they have the opportunity to learn how to offer encouragement and support. These experiences help children develop empathy and respect for others' feelings in natural interactions, thereby strengthening their social awareness.   Relationship Skills Participating in group tasks within natural environments, like planting or garden maintenance, serves as a meaningful way to nurture children’s interpersonal abilities and foster teamwork. Through these experiences, children learn how to communicate effectively, resolve minor conflicts, and share in the joy of accomplishments. These interactions help children develop the ability to build and maintain positive relationships.   Responsible Decision Making Parents and children make various decisions together during nature exploration, such as which plants to grow at home or which routes to take on a hike. These decision-making processes strengthen parent-child collaboration, at the same time provide real-life opportunities for children to learn how to take the consequences of their choices into consideration, and how to weigh pros and cons when making a decision.   Learning and playing in natural environments enhances children's physical and mental well-being, also leaving behind unforgettable memories and cherished milestones while they are growing up. This serves as a solid foundation for their future relationships and career growth. By reconnecting with nature, we can explore and embrace more meaningful ways of learning—nurturing a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.   Boris Ma Service Director (Social Services) of HKSPC   Boris is a registered social worker, and a holder of the Master degree in Social Work (Mental Health) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is dedicated to developing people-oriented social services, mobilising community resources, and enhancing family functioning.

  Is your child constantly jumping around at home? That’s actually normal for early childhood development! Adequate physical activity not only strengthens the body’s muscles but also supports intellectual growth, positively impacting brain development and cognitive abilities in young children.   Benefits of Physical Training Physical DevelopmentPhysical training equips young children with the basic motor skills needed for daily activities, such as lifting heavy objects, carrying a school bag, or climbing stairs. It also enhances their body coordination and motor planning abilities, which are essential for self-care and organizing tasks. Brain DevelopmentPhysical exercise strengthens the neural connections in a child’s brain, improving cognitive functions, learning ability, emotional regulation, focus, and memory. These benefits contribute to more effective learning across various areas. Social DevelopmentWhen children engage in physical activities with siblings or peers, they develop social skills and the sense of teamwork. It also builds their confidence and motivation to participate. Confident children tend to be more driven and proactive in both learning and everyday life.   Home Physical Training – Practical Guide Body Coordination Rice Roll GameLay a large bath towel on a mat. Have the child lie at one end of the towel. The parent rolls the child up in the towel, then encourages the child to try rolling out on their own until the towel is completely unwrapped.   Enhancing Upper Limb Control, Strength, and Stability Water Pouring ExpertLet the child try pouring water using a kettle in daily life. From lifting the kettle, aiming at the cup, to controlling the pouring speed—each step is a great upper body workout. Little HelperWhen moving books or toy boxes at home, invite the child to help. This not only strengthens upper limb muscles but also trains their self-care skills.   Improving Weight Shifting and Balance Floor Wiping with FeetHave the child step one foot on the floor and the other on a dry towel. Then wipe the floor with the foot forward, backward, or side to side. Switch feet afterward. At first, an adult can hold the child’s hands for support, and gradually reduce assistance as the child gains control.   Strengthening Core and Limb Muscles and Control Picking up Toys in All-fours PositionThe correct all-fours position involves palms and knees touching the ground, arms and waist straight, and legs forming two right angles. Though it looks simple, it’s a highly effective exercise. Encourage the child to maintain this posture while picking up toys from the floor.   Motor Planning Skills Bed MakingFrom folding the blanket in the right direction, coordinating both hands to insert the pillow into the case, to spreading out a large bedsheet—these tasks are challenging for young children. Although it may take longer than doing it yourself, involving children in bed-making is a valuable experience for their development.   4 Tips for Parents Ensure a Safe Environment Parents should make sure the activity area is free of obstacles to prevent slips or collisions. Sharp or fragile items should be placed out of children's reach. Activities that involve lying down, such as the “Rice Roll Game,” should be done on a mat or a double bed. Allow Children to Try When children first try pouring water on their own, it’s likely the table and floor will get wet. But every mistake and attempt is a valuable learning opportunity. Through repeated practice, adjustment, and experience, children gradually move closer to success. During these attempts, parents can offer support like letting children to do water pouring over a tray, use a smaller kettle and a cup with a wider mouth, and be given a towel to clean up afterward. Set Appropriate Goals Moderate challenges can boost children’s motivation and engagement. Take the “All-fours Position Toys Pickup” activity as an example: if a child can already maintain the posture for one minute, parents can set a new challenge goal of one minute and fifteen seconds or one and a half minutes. Give Positive Feedback Parents should pay attention to what children do well and offer encouraging feedback. For example, if a child is trying to spread out a bedsheet but only manages to open half of it, a parent might say: “You’ve already spread out the top part—great job! Now just the bottom part is left. Keep going!” Positive and specific praise helps build a child’s self-worth.   LEUNG Hong Ki Senior Children Development and Training Instructor Centre for Child Enlightenment, HKSPC Hong Ki is a registered Child Care Worker (CCW) and Special Child Care Worker (SCCW) with over 10 years of experience in early childhood education. She is currently responsible for providing On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services (OPRS) and services under the Training Subsidy Programme (TSP).