| Create Time | Listen Carefully and Attentively | Be Honest |
Be a Credible Source | Communicate Clearly | Have Reasonable
Expectations | Empathize With Your Child Every parent grapples
with the "best" way to respond to those difficult questions that
inevitably pop up as children get older. It is often hard to
develop an explanation that will provide accurate information
and be appropriate to your child's age and maturity level. And
let's face it—sometimes certain questions are just plain
uncomfortable. Yet parents are the best resource a child has—and
experts agree that developing an established pattern of open
communication right from the start can give your son or daughter
a healthy base of security and the ability to make sound
decisions in the future. But, if parents communicate the message
that "you can't talk to me about that," children will seek their
answers elsewhere. There is no magic answer for every question
your son or daughter asks. But, here are some guidelines that
can help you address these