"Being a better listener and asking better questions" is the key to being a better parent according to executive coach and trainer, Lindsay Tighe.
And to help parents, Lindsay has written a new book about how to communicate more effectively with your children simply called Better Parents Ask Better Questions. She has also developed a 10 module online training program to assist parents to ask better questions.
"Whether you’re dealing with the ‘Terrible 2s’ or a ‘Troubled Teenager’, I hope my book will help transform your relationship with your kids, as well as everyone else in the family for that matter," says Lindsay.
Developed for all parents who are serious about being the best parents they can be, the book enables them to recognise unconscious patterns of advice giving and telling that may not be the best response for their kids; and helping them to learn when and how to use questions that lead to positive change in their child’s behaviour.
Lindsay says the book recognises the various 'hats' that parents have to wear and the reasons that most parents adopt a ‘traditional telling’ role in their parent/child relationship.
"This can be for a variety of reasons, such as ‘ego’, being time poor or just because that is the way it has always been."
"By ‘letting go’, ‘parking your ego’ as well as making the decision to invest the time initially in adopting a questioning approach to your parenting style you can help ensure your children have greater accountability, responsibility and confidence; they are more resilient; help them become more creative; and change their behaviours."
She writes about the ideal situations to use questions, how you can become an active listener and examples of various scenarios and how you use ‘Better Questions’, that is, to get tasks done, improve interaction with siblings, for general development for your child and for coping and dealing with problems and negative interactions.
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Motherpedia readers are invited to undertake Lindsay Tighe's online parenting course for a special Motherpedia rate of $29.95 - a significant discount from the $99. To obtain the code for this, please e-mail us at info@motherpedia.com.au and we'll return the code to you. Information on the course can be found here.