1. Do you think that the following are excellent ideas, good ideas, okay ideas, or poor ideas to improve communications between parents and children?

Always look for a compromise so everyone gets a little of what they want:

excellent idea good idea okay idea poor idea

Set up some regular one-on-one time each week so that you can spend time together without distractions:

excellent idea good idea okay idea poor idea

Work on projects together:

excellent idea good idea okay idea poor idea

Have parents ease up on what they expect from children:

excellent idea good idea okay idea poor idea

Spend more time with each other:

excellent idea good idea okay idea poor idea

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2. Generally speaking, when you talk to your children about things that really matter to you, would you say such conversations are...

Very easy for you Somewhat easy for you

Somewhat difficult for you

Very difficult for you Don't know

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3. Do you think the following are very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important to your child?

their schoolwork:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

their friends:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

their appearance:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

rules in your house:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

money:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

the music they listen to:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

the opposite sex, or boyfriends or girlfriends:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

watching television:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

being popular:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

technology like computers or the Internet

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

their future:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

having fun:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

activities after school:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

family matters or issues:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

sports:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

what their friends think of them:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

food:

very important somewhat important

not too important not at all important

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4. Does the following happen often, sometimes, rarely, or never when you talk to your child?

My child doesn't give me a chance to explain myself:

often sometimes rarely never

My child uses words or language I don't understand:

often sometimes rarely never

My child pays attention to my feelings:

often sometimes rarely never

My child talks to me with respect:

often sometimes rarely never

My child is interested in my opinions:

often sometimes rarely never

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5. How much time do you spend talking with your child each day? Would you say...

Less than fifteen minutes Fifteen minutes to a half an hour

Between half an hour and an hour

One to two hours More than two hours

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6. Do the following items describe times you are very likely to talk to your child, somewhat likely to talk to your child, a time you are not too likely to talk to your child, or a time you are not at all likely to talk to your child?

Bedtime:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

Weekends:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

Breakfast:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

Dinner:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

During a special occasion, like going out for ice cream:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

While driving:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

At sporting events:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

While shopping:

very likely somewhat likely not too likely not at all likely

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7. Are your child ever too busy to talk to you?

Yes No

If so, would you say your child is too busy to talk to you all the time, sometimes, or just once in a while?

All the time Sometimes Just once in a while

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8. Are you ever too busy to talk to your child?

Yes No

If so, would you say you are too busy to talk to your child all of the time, sometimes, or once in a while?

All the time Sometimes Just once in a while

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9. Would you say your conversations with your child are usually...

mostly enjoyable or mostly annoying?

mostly interesting or mostly boring?

mostly satisfying or mostly frustrating?

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10. When you talk to your child about the following would you say your child listens to your point of view always, some of the time, or never?

their schoolwork:

always some of the time never

their friends:

always some of the time never

their appearance:

always some of the time never

rules in your house:

always some of the time never

money:

always some of the time never

the opposite sex, or boyfriends or girlfriends:

always some of the time never

family matters or issues:

always some of the time never

the way they keep their room:

always some of the time never

how they spend their time:

always some of the time never

their future:

always some of the time never

technology like computers or the Internet:

always some of the time never

the music your child listens to:

always some of the time never

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11. In your own words, what is the number one top thing you really want to talk to your child about?

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12. In the past week which of the following have you used to communicate with your child?

a standard phone a cell phone an answering machine

email/the Internet a pager the US mail

notes, cards or letters left someplace special in the house such as the refrigerator