The basis to any healthy relationship is Communication. Sounds simple?!
Healthy communication with anyone, not only with baby or a child is a very sensitive and a vital subject. It can be with anyone – our partners, children, parents, siblings, friends, co-worker, or anyone whom we are communicating with. I am sure now you all puzzled now. What does this have to do with sign language, or more so with baby sign language?
I should say that I am not a therapist, but one thing I would love to emphasis you is that communication is the root to any relationship. In my past articles, we have discussed various aspects of sign language and the importance of signing to our babies and children.
The main essence of it is to maintain a healthy relationship with our baby through communication. I would like to take this subject further away to teenage years, and show you how a better way you connect to anyone in your life, even with someone you do not agree with. These simple four steps will help you enjoy your relationships.
How you say it matters!
There are many things that have to be kept in mind while we communicate to others, but there is one base to all the tips about communication.
“When you interact with others, loved ones or people who disagree with you, the most
important thing is not actually what you say, but it is HOW you say it. It is how you connect
to them and how you communicate yourself. “ – etel leit
There are many questions that you have to ask yourself while communicating:
- Do you look at the other eyes of people whom you are trying to communicate?
- Do you show them empathy?
- What do you do with your hands while talking?
To make this topic a bit easier to understand, I would like to review 4 most breakthrough tips for establishing a healthy communication with your husband, wife, or any partner or loved one (make sure you print this and follow).
- Understanding body language
Body language is very much noted and it means a lot while you communicate with others. I would like to point to you thatSign language is a language which does not have a particular language barrier to it, because it is totally done using body movements and expressions, to communicate to anyone whom you want to communicate to!
I have listed some body language tips that you should follow while communicating to the other person.
- If you are open and attentive to the speaker, you body would be facing the speaker.
- Facial expressions are the most powerful type of nonverbal communication. Our facial expressions communicate our emotion, even when we are unsure of what we are feeling
- Making eye contact with the other person also reassures the speaker that you are actively listening to him/her
- Most importantly, if you want to give someone an undivided attention, you should make sure you are not handling phone calls, or watching TV or computer while the other person is trying to communicate with you.
With that said, I can tell you that our body language can express our feelings to our loved ones much more than our words. I would like to emphasize the fact that words are no longer needed when you can use your body language effectively. Renowned Mime Artist Booff Show utilized these techniques to communicate in the entire show with the audience without a single word!
- Physical Expression
Like body language, physical expressions like waving; touching and slouching are all forms of non-verbal communication. Physical expressions reveal us many things about the person using them.
For example, gestures can emphasize a point or relay a message, posture can reveal boredom or great interest, and touch from someone can convey you encouragement or caution!
- Tone of Voice
Becoming aware of one’s tone of voice can be very helpful. We can say the same thing, but emphasize different words in the same phrase, to drastically change the meaning of the statement.
For example.
“Honey, can you get me cup of coffee?
“Honey, can you get me cup of coffee?
“Honey, can you get me cup of coffee?
- Personal space
Personal space is the amount of space that you would find to be comfortable between yourself and others. Personal space dimensions depend notably on your individual, cultural and living background, the situation and relationships. There are five distinct space zones like,
- Close intimate (between lovers)
- Intimate (physical touching relationship)
- Personal (family and close friends)
- Social consultative (social, business)
- Public (no interaction)
- Mirroring –matching body language signals
“Mirrored” or synchronized body language towards our loved ones encourages our feelings of trust and rapport towards that person, as it generates unconscious feelings of affirmation.
When our loved one displays similar body language to our own, this makes us react unconsciously to feel, “I like this person because we are similar, and he/she likes me too”!
So next time you communicate with another person, ask yourself, how do I connect? Lure your loved ones and start signing and express your love and feeling towards them in a meaningful and convenient way with signs!