Offering an environment of open dialogue gives us parents a window into our children’s lives in more ways than one. First, and most simply, they will feel more comfortable about bringing up issues themselves, such as talking openly about serious issues like drug abuse. Second, open communication gives us an early advantage in seeing potential problems our kids may be facing. We’re more likely to see the red flags or behavior changes when we spend time with our kids and really talk with them. Our kids have so much to contend with today. It’s so important that they see us as someone they can talk with rather than someone who only talks to them. You can find more great tips on how to talk with your children at Time to Talk.