The most important thing in communication is
hearing what isn't said. - Peter F. Drucker
Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body
language before we had speech, and apparently, 80%
of what you understand in a conversation is read
through the body, not the words. - Deborah Bull
Children love talking endlessly especially to their parents and get excited more when they see their parents showing a great interest in them.But chatting with our children can take loads of time and parents are usually busy attending to lot's of things that we tend to get carried away and fail to pay attention to our kids non -Verbal Communications. And so we say to them "please talk, am listening"and not bothering to look at them to see their non -Verbal Communications.
and so we miss alot of reaction and expression on them.
Whether you do that consciously or you don't realize
it's happening, contradiction between verbal and
nonverbal communication can lead to :
Irritation or
confusion or even
Mistrust
Paying attention to those contradictions is also a way
to uncover lies
Some Non -Verbal Communication Parents Should Take Note In Their Children
Facial Expressions
Facial expressions can alert a parent to so many
things. A baby who has a soiled diaper, a toddler who
has wet himself or a teen who is angry with the world
all can be revealed by the facial expressions they wear.
Looks of confusion or uncertainty can let a parent
know when something is unclear and countenances of
sadness or grief can send the signal to console a
bereft youngster. Without these clues, parents would
have a difficult time understanding the current status
of their children's heartfelt feelings as well as their
cries for attention and assistance.
Manerisms and Gestures
A crying baby who constantly pulls at his ears will
immediately be checked for an ear infection. A child
who continuously rubs his eyes may be indicating that
he is tired. A preschooler crossing his legs and jumping
up and down may need to use the restroom -- and
quickly. There are so many cues that a child gives his
parents on a day-to-day basis that it is important that
parents be alert to the message being sent so they can
properly care for their offspring.
Eye Contact
Eye contact is especially important with older children.
The manner in which they look at you can indicate
shyness, deceit, discomfort, or love. The ancient
proverb, "The eyes are the window to the soul," is
especially true in that so much can be read into the
visual exchanges between adult and child. A student
who loses his place during a show can gain immediate
confidence just from a teacher's look of
encouragement from across a stage. A child can see
when a parent's love shines from her eyes after a job
well done. A stern glance lets a youngster know when
he is in big trouble for an infraction.
Posture
When you ask your child how his day is going and his
response is "great" or "wonderful" but he is hunched
over and walking slowly with little or no energy, it is
highly likely that you will read his body language and
ask him what is wrong. A student walking straight and
tall through the front door on report card day is sure to
have exemplary grades. Posture can reveal so much
about how a child is feeling and what is going on in
his life and also how he feels about himself and his
body image.
Sources:
Conscious Communication
LIVESTRONG.COM
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