The sayings “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” and “Actions speak louder than words” convey the importance of nonverbal communication in parenting. As children develop language skills, they often pay more attention to your nonverbal cues than to the words you say. Parents may not even be aware that they are communicating one thing with their behavior and a completely different thing with their words.

How do we communicate nonverbally?
There are many factors outside of the actual words being spoken that positively affect how your message is received:

• Eye contact. Eye contact lets your child know you are interested and serious about what they are trying to communicate to you and makes them feel important.
• Voice. Your tone, volume and pace of speaking should match the meaning of your message.
• Body language. An open stance, a gentle touch, facing your child and bending down to their level says “you’re the most important thing right now.”
• Face. People express emotions with their faces. There are a multitude of feelings the face can express. It’s important to pay attention to your child’s facial expressions as well as your own.
• Sounds and gestures. Hand gestures, like waving, thumbs up, or clapping, coupled with sounds like “hmm” or “uh-oh” are the very first ways we interact with our kids without using words. They learn the meanings of these gestures and sounds very early in life and it affects how they think of the situation in which these elements are being used.

Videos:
Powerful Parenting Tools and Understanding Non-Verbal Communication
     Post Institute (18 min, 35 sec)
What is Non-Verbal Communication?
     ABC Life Literacy Canada (5 min, 53 sec) 
The Importance of Nonverbal Cues as told by “Friends”
     (4 min, 32 sec)
Interacting With Your Baby Through Non-Verbal Cues
     Jeanne Segal, PhD (1 min, 26 sec)
The Power of Nonverbal Communication
     TEDx Talks (12 min, 55 sec)

Articles:
How Nonverbal Cues Enhance Communication with Your Kids
     Parent.com
Nonverbal Communication and Body Language
     HelpGuide.org
The Power of Nonverbal Communication
     PositiveDiscipline.com

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