Whether it's between a husband and wife or a parent and their kids, communication is a key factor in a strong relationship. All parents want to be best friends with their children. All parents want their kids to be happy in life, and to confide in them when they're not. Of course, kids aren't always willing to go straight to their parents with every struggle they face. They may feel like their parents won't be able to understand or relate to what they're struggling with. They may also see it as a personal matter that they'd rather keep to themselves.

Parents have already been ten, fifteen and eighteen years old. They've "been there, done that" and can offer advice for whatever their kids go through in life. Parents typically tell their kids "if you want to talk, I'll listen," but the kids may not always want to talk. At times when they do want to talk, they stay silent to avoid advice or input. One way of doing a family assessment could be to just hear them out. They may just want a listening ear to get something off of their chest.

Kids may be hesitant about talking to you because they're worried about how you're going to respond. They may think the conversation will turn into a lecture or that they'll walk away feeling worse when they were hoping to feel better. Kids should know that they can come to you to talk about anything that they feel like they need to. There will be no judgment or questions, no getting upset or angry. They're already unhappy as it is and may shut down completely due to a negative reaction or response.

Another thing you can do as a parent is to give your kid space. You shouldn't go to them to try and poke your nose or pry into their business. Leave them alone and let them decide on their own that they want to talk. Trying to interfere where you're not invited isn't going to help anything. They may just want to sulk around for a while or know how they want to handle whatever the situation is.

For parents with more than one kid, siblings will at times confide in each other. Sisters who are best friends will share everything with each other. Kids usually turn to older brothers when something is bothering them. They may even be willing to talk to younger siblings because they don't have it in them to push away a toddler or small child.

If your kid seems upset about something, casually ask them about how school has been going. Have the entire family share about their day while having dinner. Find a way to spend some one on one time with them so they feel comfortable enough to open up to you. You could participate in some kind of rant or stress-relieving activity so they don't feel pressured to reveal what's bothering them.

Communication within a family is always important. It can especially be beneficial when a tragic situation happens out of nowhere. There may be a death in the family, a relative may land in the hospital from a heart attack or stroke, or the parents may be deciding on getting a divorce. There can be a number of situations that can be tough for them to deal with as kids. As parents, you'll be wanting to make sure that they're holding up okay. There are various emotions that they can go through if something involves someone they're close to.

Parents are the number one people who look out for their kids for comfort and support. They care about their kids the most and want to be there for them any way they can. The relationship and communication between a parent and child can differ depending on if the child is an only child or has siblings. An only child is likely to be best friends with their parents and will confide in them about anything. Unlike siblings, an only child receives all the motherly and fatherly love and attention.