Non-verbal communication

The famous comedian Charles Chaplin is credited with the phrase: "A smile costs nothing, but is worth a lot (...) it does not impoverish the giver, and enriches the receiver (.)".

Because something that all human beings have in common is that almost no one can remain indifferent to a smile or a gesture of affection or approval, and from a very young age we react to displays of affection. The language of gestures, smiles, hugs and caresses is very powerful and contributes to the physical and intellectual development of a person as much as the most precious food.

Safe and necessary refuge

Parents prioritize the protection and nurturing of their children, sparing no expense, driven by their love for them. However, for some parents it is quite difficult to create bonds of affection and share expressions of affection with their children.

The reasons may be diverse, but these parents ignore that the greatest refuge they can offer their children in negative situations is in themselves, when through non-verbal communication they show them unconditional love and support.

By relying on smiles, hugs and gestures that show approval, children not only enjoy this, but also learn from home to be expressive and warm, which will bring them great benefits in their adult life. Nonverbal communication complements children's lives and is a valuable resource for parents who wish to provide their children with a secure and happy upbringing.

Physical contact, play and affectionate phrases are indispensable for the emotional health of people, especially in the first years of life. But it has been demonstrated that, as children grow up, this need for affection does not disappear, but is hidden inside each one because it seems to be a childish attitude, or in many cases because of fear of being rejected, or when there are negative emotions such as resentment and sadness.

Special care should be taken by parents with adolescent children, because this stage of life is subject to changes that shape their way of thinking and acting; hence, many times, even feeling the desire to receive affection from their parents, they prefer to stay away, feeling ashamed or imitating positions and attitudes of other adolescents and running the risk of being dragged into behaviors really detrimental to their future development.

They are required to have an attitude of positive reinforcement towards their adolescent children, choosing carefully the manifestations of affection that strengthen them and help them feel good about themselves, letting their children know that they are there for them always, showing that their feelings, values, efforts to fulfill their tasks, or when they show cooperation and solidarity, do not go unnoticed, allowing them to feel understood and valued.

Important observations

Every responsible adult puts into practice elementary rules to live in harmony with society, and that is why it is necessary that during the process of upbringing, parents transmit this knowledge, thus avoiding future mistakes in the lives of their children. Likewise, parents should keep in mind that:

• Non-verbal communication varies according to the age of the children, having to choose the appropriate form for them.

• Sometimes, these expressions of affection can have a negative effect, such as when tickling, which can accentuate the state of vulnerability in children, so adults should be attentive to signs that they do not want to continue playing because they feel overcome or frustrated.

• Adolescents, while conveying the message of not wanting affection, are very much in need of it.

Powerful and long-lasting effects

Non-verbal communication has, among its great advantages, that it models the behavior of children in an effective way, because when they feel approved by their parents, they experience an emotional well-being that leads them to reproduce those actions to deserve again those expressions of affection.

Parents who intelligently rely on nonverbal communication provide their children with the necessary courage to test and improve their skills, knowledge and creativity, because the positive energy that reaches them from a simple gesture encourages and drives them, creating powerful effects on their physical and emotional development.

On the other hand, the wonderful language of gestures, kisses, hugs and caresses, helps to dissolve any resentment that may exist between parents and children because of some negative situation, because they reinforce the recognition towards children, which is very important in their process of growth and maturity, because it creates in them a healthy pride that works as the basis of a healthy self-esteem by making them feel good about themselves and favoring their understanding of the world and their level of acceptance towards other people, qualities very beneficial for everyone in general.

Using non-verbal communication in the family reflects the power of love that builds and unites parents and children, reinforcing a bond that nurtures, unites and protects them so that they can go out into the world as individuals capable of overcoming any challenge and interacting in society, giving the best of themselves.