Listening to Non-Verbal Communication
Most children do not have highly developed communication skills or the introspective self-awareness required to know and express accurately how or why they feel as they do. Often times children use non-verbal methods for expressing what they cannot quite find the words to say. For example, a toddler may scream, cry, and / flop on the floor to express frustration; a child may cover her ears to block out sound; a teen might slam the door. How do we understand what our children are trying to say? In order to understand, parents need to: not take the communication personally, remain calm, be empathic, and be curious. Don't take it personally and try to stay calm. Work to remain objective so that you can observe with a clear mind. This is at times extremely difficult, but it's necessary to being an objective observer. If you take it personally or feel that your child is being disrespectful, you will be attending to your needs, not your child's. Kee...