The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired

by Daniel J. Siegel

Here’s an exercise to help you think about different ways to connect using nonverbal communication. Using your hands, working from the top down, point out each of seven nonverbal signals to remind yourself of the many ways you can engage with your child without ever saying a word. Start by taking your index finger and circling it around your face, representing facial expressions. Then point to your eyes, which stand for eye contact. Now, point to your throat, which represents tone of voice. Now point to your shoulders and body, which denote your posture. Move your hands and arms, which stand for gestures. Point to your wrist (where a watch would be) for the timing of your response, and finally, make fists with your hands, showing the energy or intensity of your response.

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