<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family is the root of life for most people, from toddlerhood all the way to being a senior citizen.&nbsp; Yet despite this, family communication is often lacking.&nbsp; This is a problem that continues to get worse as technology invades more of our home time and family time, leading to many specialists to start looking at how communication can actually strengthen family and relationship bonds.</p> <p>The importance of communication</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Communication is more than just words.&nbsp; It is how we connect with each other and find comfort, safety, and love.&nbsp; Without proper communication, it is easy for children to get confused and for couples to drift apart.&nbsp; There is more to it, though:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Communication in families:</strong> When proper and open communication is modelled in family settings, children learn how to both initiate it, and expect it, from those they meet in the future.&nbsp; This teaches them to understand the value of open communication and build connections with people who will hold the same values.&nbsp; In a modern world that is often loaded with deceit and unfaithfulness (in many forms), this is increasingly important.</li> <li><strong>Communication within relationships:</strong> Between romantic partners, open communication and expression is important.&nbsp; It helps show that two people are compatible and that they will prioritize each other over the other connections that they have in their life.&nbsp; It also fosters trust, respect, and dedication.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>Examples of communication</p> <ul> <li><strong>Make family mealtime a priority as much as possible:</strong> Mealtime, where everyone gets a chance to discuss their day, should always be a priority,&nbsp; No phones, no distractions, and everyone should attend without friends or partners, etc.&nbsp; Even if it is just once a week, it can be a great way to help promote a great space to talk.&nbsp; This also works well with couples, too.</li> <li><strong>Interact on social media: </strong>Both families and couples can help ease communication through interacting via social media.&nbsp; Faster and often easier when needing to discuss something awkward or challenging, it is also a great record so that you both can go back to it in times of struggle.</li> <li><strong>Encourage open discussions in a safe space:</strong> Whether virtual or in-person, from families to couples, open communication flourishes in a situation where the speaker feels that whatever they need to say is going to be heard and respected in a place where they will not be judged.&nbsp; This is the key to discussing those harder topics.&nbsp; It is also a perfect &ldquo;test&rdquo; to see how open a family&rsquo;s communication plan really is.</li> </ul> <p>The bottom line: keep trying</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Obviously, there are going to be times where open communication is extremely challenging, if not impossible.&nbsp; However, making it a priority as much as possible is going to help each family member feel like they are part of the family network.&nbsp; These days, that is no small thing.&nbsp; By making sure that open communication is encouraged, the family is stronger, closer, and communicates more effectively when the time comes for it to be needed (ex: during a crisis).</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From families to relationships, open communication is a priority that no one really talks about as much as they should (see what we did there?).&nbsp; It does not need to be a 3-hour conversation for it to be meaningful.&nbsp; You simply need to focus on open honesty with those who matter most to you.</p> <p>Sources</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X12003175">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X12003175</a></li> <li><a href="https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/blog/using-social-media-to-strengthen-family-bonds">https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/blog/using-social-media-to-strengthen-family-bonds</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfp-ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds-20150209-story.html">https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfp-ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds-20150209-story.html</a></li> </ul>