Stop talking and listen if you want your child to thrive

Children are often more likely to open up about what’s going on for them when they’re standing beside you setting the table or you’re sitting side by side in the car, reveals Helen O’Callaghan. 

SIDEWAYS listening has been around for a long time in therapy rooms, where chairs are placed at a slight angle to each other so people feel more at ease about talking openly.

Child therapist Helen Sholdice says sideways communication between child and parent works, because not having direct eye contact may allow children to bring up difficult topics.