Strong, clear communication strengthens partnerships. How we communicate with families both verbally and non-verbally sets a tone for how partnerships develop. Below are some practices that support positive and meaningful communication between partners. Review this list and pick one or two practices that you feel you do well and one or two that you would like to practice more often.

Skills	Explanation & Examples
1. Attending to others	Provide verbal or non-verbal awareness of the other, for example engaging in eye contact, facing the person speaking, limiting distractions, etc.
2. Restating messages	Respond to a parent’s verbal message. “I heard you say that you felt frustrated when Kara’s teacher said that she had problems and that you should set more rules for her.”
3. Reflecting	Reflect feelings, experiences, or content that has been heard or perceived through cues. (reinforcing and supporting the speaker, clarifying meaning) “That must have been hard for you. I can tell by your tears that it is still upsetting to talk about.”
4. Interpreting	Offer a tentative interpretation about the other’s feelings, desires, or meanings. “What I am hearing is that this experience made you question your own parenting skills.”
5. Summarizing, synthesizing	Bring together feelings and experiences; providing a focus. “Let’s focus a bit on these questions around parenting.”
6. Probing	Question in a supportive way that requests more information or clarifies confusions. “Tell me more about some of the ways you feel successful as a parent.”
7. Supporting	Show warmth and caring in one’s own individual way. “It sounds like there are many things that you do as a parent that support your child. Parenting isn’t always easy is it?”
8. Checking perceptions	Find out if interpretations and perceptions are valid and accurate. “You had a difficult time hearing that Jose was struggling in school, you felt like maybe you hadn’t been doing enough to help him. It is clear you are passionate about being a mother and have much strength, yet are fearful that there is something you are missing, does that sound accurate so far?”
9. Being quiet	Give the other time to think as well as to talk.