Nonverbal communication: are they or aren’t they? Do they or don’t they?
Get ready. Your child is going to start telling you a lot with their body language and facial expressions – in ways that you do and don’t like. From fist-bumps and winking to eye-rolls and deep sighs, their nonverbal communication is becoming more complex and expressive.
Fortunately, there are lots of things that you can do to help your child learn how to use their nonverbal behaviors in ways that are productive and meaningful.
Make clear observations about your child’s behavior and the behaviors of others.
Acknowledging your child’s nonverbal behavior helps them to understand the ways they communicate nonverbally and may make them more aware of others’ nonverbals. To do this think of some of the following questions:
- What does this action mean?
- What does it tell you about how your child is feeling?
- What does it tell your child about how others are feeling?
“Your arms are crossed, and you look like you’re upset right now. What’s going on to make you feel this way?”
Get creative!
- Playing games like charades encourage children to explore and practice using their body language in ways that help them communicate and interact with others.
- For older kids, create a list of situations and scenarios that they are likely to come across in their everyday lives. Give them a chance to playfully practice expressing themselves without using their words.
Using your own nonverbal cues.
- Make sure you are at eye level when talking to your kids. Sit down. Bend down. Do whatever you need to do in order to establish clear eye contact.
- Communicate your love and support through the use of nonverbal behaviors. There are so many ways: give them a thumbs up, hold their hand, and hug and kiss them.