How To Respond To "Can We Talk?"
- Beau
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
Written by Beau, MSED, BCBA, TRLC, CCST-I, RYT 200
Listening can be tough work—much harder than it seems!
Many of us engage in surface level listening - we give only a little attention, jump into sharing our own experiences or offering advice.
Think about a time when you’ve left a conversation feeling like no one really heard you. It can feel isolating, frustrating, or even dismissive. Unfortunately, this happens to our young people too. 😔
How Can We Listen To Our Children Better?
How To Resond When Your Young Person Says “Can W Talk
The good news? Listening is a skill we can build and improve on.
By leveling up our active listening skills, we can create meaningful, supportive conversations with the young people in our lives. Let’s explore how to become better listeners and ensure their voices are truly heard..
🗣️ How To Respond When Your Young Person Says “Can We Talk?” 🗣️
🗣️ First, Clarify Their Needs...
sounds like: “Sure! Do you want me to just listen, or would you like help problem-solving?”
🗣️ Then, Show Your Listening...
sounds like:
“It sounds like you…”
“It seems that you…”
“It’s feeling as if…”
“Let me see if I’ve got it, you…”
“So you’re saying that…”
“I want to be sure I’m following—you’re saying…”
🗣️ Or, Ask Guiding Questions...
sounds like:
“What are your next steps?”
“What will you start doing? Stop doing?”
“How will you know if it’s working?”
“What support do you need to accomplish this?”
“When will you take action?”
“What accountability structure will support you?”
In the fleeting moments that out children reach out to us, be prepared to make sure they are heard!
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