Over the next nine weeks, Kids Talk will focus on the skills needed for effective communication. When we, as adults, seek to understand our children, we must begin by observing their behavior. We then look for feelings. We anticipate needs. We respect the requests of our children, who in every culture and generation have said, ''Help me help myself.''At the center of most of our problems today–within ourselves, our families, our businesses, our countries and our world–is ineffective communication. Experts who study and practice effective communication for years find themselves in the middle of misunderstandings. The challenge is immense.