Substance Abuse Advisory Council Director Josua Naisele says children do not always communicate their problems through words, and changes in their behaviour can also be a way of showing that something is wrong.
Naisele says repeatedly coming home late, not doing homework or suddenly changing friends could indicate that something is happening in a child's life.
He says rather than immediately becoming angry, parents should try to understand what may be behind the change in behaviour.
Naisele says children need someone who will listen to them and make an effort to understand what they are going through.
He says when a child approaches a parent wanting to share something, parents should put other things aside, give the child their full attention and listen.
Naisele says when children do not receive enough attention at home, they may instead turn to friends or other people who are willing to listen to them.
He says building a strong connection at home can make children feel more comfortable approaching their parents when they are facing problems.
Naisele also urges parents to be mindful of how they speak when correcting their children.
Insert:Naisele on parents tone
He says when parents shout, children may focus more on the tone being used than on the message the parent is trying to get across.
Naisele says parents should communicate calmly, listen to their children and spend quality time with them to create a home environment where children feel safe and comfortable speaking openly about what they are going through.
