This month we are focusing on the importance of eye contact when talking to others. Making eye contact shows respect, helps us listen better and builds confidence. Here are some tips we can all use to help practice this important skill.
✨Encourage your child or student to look at the person they're talking to, even for just a few seconds at a time.
✨Practice everyday moments - like greeting each other in the morning or ordering food somewhere.
✨Remind children that eye contact doesn't mean staring; it's about showing interest.
For individuals who find eye contact challenging due to neurodivergent tendencies or other reasons, it’s important to recognize and support various ways to show interest and attentiveness. These can include verbal affirmations, orienting the body toward the speaker, nodding, and other forms of body language that feel comfortable and authentic.
By practicing this simple but powerful habit and adding onto our last monthly skill of "smiles", students will grow in their ability to communicate clearly and confidently.