Giving Your Child "Voice":
The 3 Rules of Parenting

One of the most important psychological factors in raising a family is giving children "voice." What is "voice"? It is the sense of agency that resides in all of us, that makes us confident that we will be heard, and that we will have impact on our environment. Exceptional parents grant a child a voice equal to theirs the day that child is born. And they respect that voice as much as they respect their own.

How can you give your child "voice"? There are three rules.

First, assume that what your child has to say about the world is just as important as what you have to say.
Second, assume that you can learn as much from them as they can from you.
Third, enter their world through play, activities, discussions: don't require them to enter yours in order to make contact.

It is not easy to follow these "rules." Parents who are still trying to make their own voices heard due to injuries from their past often are unable to do it without help. Indeed, they are likely to impose their voice, and demand children listen to them. If you listen to the subtext of these parent-child relationships it becomes clear that the child is taking care of the parent. Sometimes the child feels like a prisoner, because they cannot say what they really feel, only what their parent wants to hear. Other times, children who have never been given the chance to develop "voice" act out, build walls around them, take drugs as an escape, etc. because they feel all alone in the world, and the anxiety and/or depression they feel as a result is unbearable.

It is extraordinary that the most important job in the world, raising a child, is an untrained position. Many parents deceive themselves about the quality of their parenting skills. Parents sometimes compare themselves favorably to their own parents, and indeed they often do a better job. But what is often necessary is not just doing a better job, but stepping out of the box and seeing the parenting role in a completely different way. Very few parents can do this on their own. This is why psychotherapy is so essential to many parents and parents-to-be. Clients often learn that their voice was not heard, and they are struggling to regain agency by having their children listen to them. Tragically, this "backwards parenting" can be passed on from generation to generation.

It is important to start applying the above rules from the moment of birth. A child begins learning voice early in life, and if the critical period passes and the sense of agency has not developed, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to restore. The ensuing panic, hopelessness, and aloneness can last an entire lifetime. Much of the therapeutic work I do involves the exploration of voice lost or unrealized in childhood.

What do children with "voice" look like? They have a sense of identity that belies their years. They stand up for themselves when necessary. They speak their mind and are not easily intimidated. They accept the inevitable frustrations and defeats of life with grace and keep moving forward. They are not afraid to try new things, to take appropriate risks. People of all ages find them a joy to talk with.

Every parent should strive to give their young child voice. Look at yourselves honestly: if you can't follow the three rules, get help as soon as possible. It is not shameful. With hard work, you can break the intergenerational cycle and give your child (and, ultimately, their children) this wonderful gift.

(P.S. Duen Yen has posted an excellent article on listening, part of the Malama Learning Facility website.).

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