July 15, 2026

Children and Communication: 8 Tips for Nonverbal Communication in Kids

By paying attention to your child's eye contact, gestures, posture, body movements, and tone of voice, you can gather a wealth of information that they may not be communicating verbally.
For a message to be conveyed consistently, verbal and nonverbal communication must align. If you notice a mismatch between what someone says and their body language, you may need to approach the situation with extra care. For example, if your child says everything is fine while looking down and avoiding eye contact, this is a red flag. Research shows that when there is a contradiction between spoken words and body language, people instinctively pay more attention to nonverbal cues.
Similarly, as parents, you should ensure that your own body language supports your spoken words when communicating with your child. For instance, if they ask, 'Can I play in the park with my friends?' and you say 'Yes' while wearing an unhappy or reluctant expression, it can leave them feeling conflicted and confused about whether they should actually go.
If you spot a contradiction between your child's body language and their words, you can gently point it out. Using the first example, if they say everything is okay but look down sadly, you could say, 'You seem a little sad to me,' giving them an open invitation to share their feelings.
Your tone of voice carries immense meaning. Just as reading a written message with different tones can change its entire meaning, using a tone of voice that matches the emotion you wish to convey is essential in spoken communication.
Maintaining eye contact shows the speaker that you are engaged and listening. When talking with your child, it is important to get down to their eye level. Encouraging them to make eye contact when talking or listening helps build connection. Remember, they will model their communication style after yours.
The environment where communication takes place also plays a significant role in how verbal and nonverbal cues are interpreted. Some settings require more formal communication, and behaviors acceptable in one place might be viewed differently in another. Therefore, it is helpful to assess whether verbal and body language are appropriate for the setting.
When reading body language, it is best to look at the whole picture rather than focusing on a single gesture or facial expression. A single nonverbal cue can have many different causes. For example, if your child briefly looks away, it might simply be due to temporary eye discomfort rather than a lack of interest.