- Carson Daly says his trick to parenting children is to treat them like they’re adults.
- “I’ve always talked to them like they were 30 years old,” the “Today” co-host told People.
- Open communication can help strengthen the relationship between parents and their children.
It’s not easy being a father of four, but Carson Daly says the trick to parenting children is to treat them like adults.
In an interview with People published on Wednesday, the “Today” co-host spoke about how he brings up difficult topics — like mental health — to his kids.
Carson shares four kids with his wife, Siri Pinter: Jackson James, 15; Etta Jones, 11; London Rose, 9; and Goldie Patricia, 4.
“I’ve always talked to them like they were 30 years old,” Carson told People, adding that he always tries to be forthcoming with them about his own struggles.
Part of it includes not hiding the fact that he and his wife attend therapy regularly.
“My wife and I have gone through couples therapy where they’ve walked in the room on Zoom and it’s not like I hide it. ‘Hey, what are you guys doing?’ ” Daly said, recalling his children’s words. “‘Oh, we’re doing, mom and I do our couples therapy. We get to do it once a week.'”
“‘Marriage is hard. This helps mom and dad out.’ That’s how I talk to my kids,” he continued.
Carson says he also encourages his kids to not shy away from discussing their mental health with him.
“Their whole lives, they know two types, there’s physical health and mental health,” he said. “If you hurt your wrist at school, you go to the doctor. And if you’re feeling sad and you really don’t know why or if there’s something going on in your mind, you’re having a hard time grappling with, you talk to somebody about that too.”
Just as tuning into emotions and practicing active listening are vital in the workplace, open communication plays a key role in strengthening the bond between parents and their kids.
Many children would have already developed self-esteem by the age of five, which means “they are likely to listen to what people say and form opinions based on their interactions with others,” Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind, told Business Insider previously.
Researchers have found that when children overhear their parents’ negative attitudes toward a group — however briefly — they take on those thoughts and feelings as well. Therefore, it’s important for parents to choose their words carefully when speaking to their children.
The CDC recommends that parents engage in active listening and try to learn about their children’s likes and dislikes to create a safe space for their kids to express themselves.
A representative for Daly did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
