Don't Nag

Family services social worker Laura Jones says that with hard-to-reach kids, parents must balance their curiosity with their child's right to privacy. "Ask only a couple of questions at a time," she suggests. "That way, your children know you're interested, but they don't get the sense that you're interrogating them. Also, make sure you don't always ask the same questions."

Know Your Kid

Additionally, Jones says that it's important not only to know the people your child associates with but also to know your child well and be able to recognize unusual behaviors. "Sometimes a child's behavior changes very drastically, sometimes when problems occur, the changes are very subtle," she says. "Don't be afraid to talk to your child about changes you've noticed in her behavior. If your child doesn't open up to you, talk to her teacher or guidance counselor about your concerns. It might be that she has a problem seeing the blackboard from her seat in the classroom, or perhaps the class has started learning a new or harder subject."

Once you get your child to open up about his experiences, desires, dilemmas and needs, be prepared to respond with careful and thoughtful dialogue. Remember that communication is a two-way street, and how well you share your thoughts and feelings with your child will ultimately determine how well he shares his with you.