Title: Identify ways to strengthen communication in families.
Course: Family Relations (19259-36) > Section: Developing Communication Patterns that Enhance Family Relationships

Identification should include

- describing the characteristics of effective and ineffective communication
- identifying appropriate times, settings, and circumstances to communicate with family members
- determining personal communication style
- determining communication skills that encourage constructive family interactions
- identifying strategies to improve speaking and listening skills
- identifying strategies to help the family move to a deeper level of communication.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- How often are you misunderstood at school? Among friends? By the family? At work? Why do these misunderstandings occur?
- Why do some families communicate better than others?
- How can a family strengthen their communication skills?
- What communication resources are available to a family?
- How can technology encourage or inhibit communication?
- Why is it important to recognize when communication patterns are escalating toward a negative outcome?
- Why is it beneficial to take a time-out when a discussion is escalating toward a negative outcome?

Communication

- What can be done to clarify messages?
- What factors might cause a family to move to a different level of communication?
- Why is it important to think about the ways people communicate?
- Why is it important to communicate feelings? How can feelings be effectively communicated?
- What are the most appropriate times, settings, and/or circumstances to communicate concerns?

Leadership

- What is the relationship between leadership and communication?
- Why is it important for a leader to be a good communicator?
- What are the risks in seeking to communicate on a different level?
- How can communication skills help you respond in positive ways?
- How can a leader improve their listening skills?

Management

- How can strategies be developed that encourage a deeper level of communication within the family?
- What resources can be used to improve family communication?
- What communication skills encourage constructive family interaction?
- What attitude and skills are needed to be an effective communicator?