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I can tell you from my own experience that talking to children and teaching them to listen is a very tricky business. The secret is to start young. The younger they are, the easier it gets. There are some unwritten rules that help you communicate with your children.
1. Take away all distractions! It will be easier for the child to listen to you when there is nothing else to catch his attention. If you leave the child's toys, for example, in the room he will not pay attention to you because he will be concentrated on his toys even if they are out of reach.

2. Make sure he is not hungry, thirsty or needs anything, because it will be very difficult for your child to listen when his mind is set on something else.
3. Don't forbid anything without a serious reason. he needs a more reasonable explanation than "because i say so". For example, you can tell the child that knifes are off limits because he can cut himself in the sharp edges, and that will hurt.
3. If you and your partner disagree on something about the child's education, do not disagree in front of the child. he will notice that and take advantage of your weaknesses.
4. If you have more than one, don't talk just to one because, the others will feel left out. The best thing is to gather them together and explain to all the same issues even if some are smaller or bigger.
5. You have to agree together on what you are about to say, before you talk to your children so there are no inconsistencies.
6. Children are little people and they understand more than you think. Don't treat them otherwise. Don't use diminutives or words like "wiener" for "penis". A child needs to learn to speak properly.
7. Don't give stupid explanations, for example, don't tell a child that children come from the sky, brought by a bird. Explain to him that when two people are in love, and they decide to have a baby, they have intercourse(this you can explain using the story about the birds and the bees to get where you're going) and through fecundation a baby begins the most exciting adventure of all, life.
8. Teenagers are more sensible than children so treat them with respect, understanding, and, grant them with all the attention you have. Forget about dishes, or papers or anything else, and try to understand their fears, their desires. Adolescents are confused, try to explain calmly, using examples and assuring them that everyone goes through this process, and that you went through it too and know what it's like, that makes them feel more relaxed, and improves your relationship.
And the most important thing is to keep your cool. It's hard to begin, but once you start your parent-child relationship will be better than ever... who knows...you might even become best friends. Remember that we live in a world where communication is becoming a lost art.

Learn more about this author, Elisabeta Ploscaru.
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