If you’ve ever struggled with how to support your child in his/her competitive sport or activity here are some tips from Dave Jones.

MTT Parents True Listening vs Hearing.pd
true listening vs. hearing
What is True Listening?
What is true listening? Dr. James Jones suggests that true listening is not advice, counsel, or trying to solve problems. Listening is just hearing what your troubled teen athlete has to say. Parents often respond to a teen with comments that are judgmental, advisory, or are non-accepting in some way. These responses “close” or shut down the conversation and do not promote further dialogue. Closed responses also “discount” the other person.
Open responses are a much more productive method of communicating with a concerned or defiant teenager. These responses are nonjudgmental, and have no suggestions or solutions. The response is one of simply accepting what is being said. These responses reflect both the content and the feelings the child is projecting to you as the parent.
The book “Let’s Fix the Kids” by Dr. James Jones gives an example of closed parent response and an example of open parent response. See the examples below:
Closed Parent Response:
Teenager: “My science teacher gave me a “C” on that science project. I can’t believe it!” Parent: 1. “I told you to type it but you won’t ever listen, will you?”
2. “Don’t complain; we get what we deserve.”
3. “Teachers aren’t unfair; what did you mess up this time?”
These are called “closed responses” because they effectively close down communication between a parent and struggling teenager. They are usually “put downs” in the form of giving advice or criticism.
Open Parent Responses:
Teenager: “I can’t believe Mr. Green gave me a “C” on my science project after I spent weeks on the stupid thing.”
Parent: “It sounds to me like you’re very disappointed (feelings) only getting a “C” after doing that much work. (content)”
Teenager: “Besides that, he gave Don an “A” because he did the project Mr. Green suggested.”
Parent: “Have I got this right? You feel angry (feelings) because Mr. Green is being unfair. (content)”
Teenager: “You’d better believe it! Anyway I learned a lot from my project; it really was hard!”
Parent: “Then in spite of the disappointing (feelings) grade, are you glad (feelings) you stuck to your more difficult project? (content)” Teenager: “Yeah! I guess I am, but I thought I was going to get an “A” for sure. Hey… what is there to eat?”
LISTEN!
* When a concerned or troubled teen asks you to listen to them and you start giving advice, you have not done what they asked. * When a struggling teen asks you to listen to him and you begin to tell him why he shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling
on his or her feelings.
* When a concerned, troubled, or defiant teen asks you to listen to them and you feel you have to do something to solve his or
her problem, you have failed them, strange as that may seem.
* Listen! Your teenager asked you to only listen, not talk or do, just hear him.
* Advice is cheap; you can get both Dear Abby and Billy Graham in the same newspaper.
* Your teen can act for himself. He is not helpless. Maybe discouraged and frustrated, but not helpless.
* When you do something for your teen that he can do for himself, you contribute to his fear and weakness.
* But, when you accept as a simple fact that your teenager does feel what he or she feels, no matter how irrational, then you
can quit trying to convince them and get about the business of understanding what’s behind this irrational feeling. And when
that’s clear, the answers are obvious and they won’t need advice.
* So, please listen and just hear your struggling teenager. And, if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn; and he or she
will listen to you.
Mental Toughness Training © 2020

true listening vs. hearing
Listening vs. Hearing
Do you think there is a difference between hearing and listening? You are right, there is! Hearing is simply the act of perceiving

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