connect with kids – look them in the eye
When you talk to your kids (or any kids for that matter) how do position your body? Hmmm, is that a strange question? I have a good reason for asking, so give it some thought. 😉
Do you stand tall over them and look down?
Or do you squat down and look them in the eye?
The simple action of getting down on kid level will make for an even stronger connection in the conversation.  Don’t worry if you can’t squat.  There are lots of ways to get down to kid level!  Sit on a chair, sit on the ground, squat or kneel down.  Anything that brings you eye to eye.
Look at Little M’s neck in this picture. Â She has to lean her head way back to talk to her Auntie L. Â Their faces are actually very far apart and eye contact is difficult. Â Can you imagine talking to everyone like this?
When Auntie L squats down in front of her, Little M easily shares her story face to face.  Getting down on kid level helps kids learn the important skill of eye contact while conversing.  It also show’s that you are ready to give your full attention.  Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful way to enter a conversation?
So I ask again, how do you  position your body when talking to kids?
Simple parenting tricks like this one can make all the difference when comes to really connecting with your kids.
And that’s why I decided to say YES!
Limit Screen Time
Dinner Conversation
This post originally appeared on May 9, 2012.
Great reminder. Especially since I’ve been trying to teach my children to use eye contact while talking to people. Thanks!
Wow! Thanks for those photos. I think we have all heard this advice, but when you see it, it is so clear why it is a good parenting practice!
Thank you!!
Thank you, Jen!!!
This is such a great visual way to remind us all to get down on the kids level! It’s a repeated theme in many language intervention programs, but this illustrates it so well!! Thanks so much for sharing it.
Cheers
Emily
Thank you Emily! I really appreciate the compliment.
Thank you for putting this out there! It drives me crazy when I see parents reprimanding their children like a tyrant, hover above.
Me too! Although I think some people just don’t know how it looks to the kids.
So true! Great post! It’s amazing that such simple things can make such a big difference.
Thank you Megan!
Such great advise! I’m a foster parent for kids in therapeutic care and over the years I’ve had a few younger boys with Aspergers Syndrome and one of the symptoms is avoidance of eye contact so this is even more important when talking to these little ones as they need much more support with this issue.
Thank you. Good point that every kid will benefit from this tip, but some kids need it more than others.
Picking up a child in your arms is another great way to bring them to your eye level, and give them some love at the same time. : D
Picking them up is a great way to look them in the eye and get some love. Great tip. 😉