Orang tua menjadi tempat cerita utama anak saat kecil. Lingkungan rumah menjadi tempat pertama bagi anak untuk berlindung dan membagikan perasaannya.
Namun, ketika anak tumbuh dewasa, lingkungannya meluas. Orang tua, bisa jadi, bukan tempat bercerita utama lagi bagi anak. Terlebih jika orang tua dan anak tidak memiliki bentuk komunikasi yang baik dan sehat seiring waktu.
Menurut terapis hubungan Jordanne Sculler, LMHC, saat anak masih kecil, orang tua bertanggung jawab untuk menjaga keselamatan serta memberikan kesempatan bagi anak untuk berkembang. Oleh karena itu, orang tua diharapkan untuk menetapkan batasan, menegakkan aturan, dan menjaga batasan yang tegas.
Namun, seiring hubungan berkembang menjadi hubungan antarorang dewasa, orang tua perlu melepaskan kendali dan menghargai otonomi anak mereka.
Menjalin hubungan dengan anak yang sudah dewasa bisa jadi penuh tantangan bagi orang tua. Di satu sisi, orang tua perlu memberikan otonomi dan kemandirian yang jauh lebih besar kepada anak dibandingkan saat mereka masih kecil. Di sisi lain, orang tua tetap ingin menjaga hubungan yang erat dan penuh kasih sayang dan ingin anak tetap terbuka.
Ada beberapa kebiasaan orang tua yang bisa membantu anak yang sudah tumbuh dewasa agar mereka mau bercerita, dilansir dari Parents.
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<h2 class="fw-bold fs-5">Practicing Active Listening</h2>
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<img src="https://akcdn.detik.net.id/visual/2026/09/22/kebiasaan-orang-tua-yang-membuat-anak-mau-bercerita-dan-terbuka-saat-dewasa-1790058413272.jpeg?w=700&q=90" alt="Menjalin hubungan dengan anak yang sudah dewasa bisa jadi penuh tantangan bagi orang tua. Orang tua perlu memberikan otonomi bagi anak tapi orang tua juga ingin tetap anak terbuka.Ada beberapa kebiasaan orang tua yang bisa membantu anak yang sudah tumbuh dewasa agar mereka mau bercerita." title="Menjalin hubungan dengan anak yang sudah dewasa bisa jadi penuh tantangan bagi orang tua. Orang tua perlu memberikan otonomi bagi anak tapi orang tua juga ingin tetap anak terbuka.Ada beberapa kebiasaan orang tua yang bisa membantu anak yang sudah tumbuh dewasa agar mereka mau bercerita."/>
<p>Parent habits that help adult children open up/Foto: Pexels.com</p>
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<p><span>Active listening stands as a cornerstone for raising grown children. When talking with them, parents should focus on truly hearing them before jumping to give advice or fix things.</span></p>
Clinical psychologist Karen Molano, PsyD, advises parents to acknowledge their child’s feelings by saying, “That sounds really challenging. How are you feeling about it?” before offering any suggestions.
This method not only validates the child’s experience but also bolsters their ability to process emotions healthily, helping them develop emotional resilience.
Encouraging Shared Efforts to Maintain a Relationship
Parent habits that help adult children open up/Foto: Pexels.com
Some grown children become more indifferent and reluctant to communicate. If they no longer live with their parents, they may rarely call or check in.
When it comes to staying in touch, parents can adopt a more mature approach to nurturing the relationship. The key is to foster mutual respect and make clear that both sides share responsibility for maintaining the bond.
Clinician Geena Lovallo‑Chiaravalloti, LMFT, notes that since both parties are now adults, they should each take the initiative to reach out. However, the duty to communicate must be balanced and not placed solely on either the parent or the child.
This can be challenging, especially if a parent feels the child is not doing enough to keep the connection alive. Parents can still engage by initiating dialogue and encouraging the child’s participation.
Finding Fresh Ways to Spend Time Together
Parent habits that help adult children open up/Foto: Pexels.com
As children mature, the way families spend time together naturally shifts. A primary reason is that many adult children no longer live at home, making shared moments more planned than spontaneous. Moreover, activities often change from large family vacations to simpler gatherings like regular dinner outings.
Sculler suggests that parents can adopt new approaches to strengthen the bond and keep it meaningful and harmonious.
“Your child is growing up, and your shared time routines should evolve accordingly,” she notes. “Whether it’s a weekly phone call, a shared hobby, or an annual trip, discovering fresh ways to connect will help keep your bond strong.”
Honoring a Child’s Choices
Parent habits that help adult children open up/Foto: Pexels.com
Another key habit to encourage openness is for parents to respect their adult child’s decisions.
“Your child now makes independent choices about career, relationships, and life in general; this can be a tough adjustment for parents used to being in control,” says therapist April Crowe, LCSW.
Nevertheless, parents should strive to avoid active interference once a child reaches adulthood. One of the most vital steps at this stage is to value the child’s independence. Parents can ask before offering advice.
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