Nonverbal Communication of Teenagers

The words that come out of your teen̵7;s mouth may not match up with what his body is telling you. Whether you want to communicate better with your teen or pick up on what̵7;s really going on with him, you can learn to read his nonverbal cues. His actions, expressions and body language can help clue you into what he̵7;s truly thinking and feeling.

  1. Facial Expressions

    • Take a good look at his facial expressions. You may be able to interpret his mood, like his happiness, sadness or anger, just with one glance. For example, if your teen is worried about an upcoming sporting event or exam, it may show in the form of a frown or scrunched forehead. Excitement and happiness will come in the form of smiles.

    Posture

    • His posture can give you a clue on how he̵7;s feeling about himself. If he has slumped shoulders, he may be self-conscious, insecure, nervous or tired. Standing tall with squared shoulders shows the world that he is feeling confident and assured.

    Eye Contact

    • Your teenager̵7;s eyes show you more than just that he̵7;s awake. Wandering eyes may indicate lack of interest or preoccupation. Downcast eyes can be due to nervousness, guilt or lack of confidence. On the other hand, maintaining good eye contact shows interest, confidence, affection or attraction.

    Gestures

    • His hands and body also speak a nonverbal language. Waving his hands can be a friendly, comfortable gesture as he talks to his friends and family. Tapping his fingers, hands or feet may be indicating that he̵7;s bored, thinking deeply or stressed. If he starts pointing or poking, he could be showing interest, adding emphasis to what he̵7;s saying or using the gesture to intimidate another person. Take a look at his facial expression and tone to understand what his gestures truly mean.

    Tone of Voice

    • Besides the words, pay attention to his tone, timing, spacing, loudness and inflection. If he̵7;s speeding through his words, he may be nervous. A quiet voice can indicate shyness or insecurity. A calm voice usually means he̵7;s relaxed and comfortable in his current situation. Extreme loudness is often used when one is happy, excited or angry. His inflection and tone can emphasize his anger, warmth, confidence, sarcasm or happiness.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Why Are Teenagers Lazy?
      Parents might feel like they are fighting an uphill battle of wills against a teenage son or daughter who refuses to help around the house, get a job or sometimes even get out of bed. Laziness can be influenced by social pressures that take priority
    • The Effects of Teenage Rebellion
      If a teenager chooses rebellion as a means of retaliation or to deal with negative feelings, the cost can have involve long-term consequences. Teenagers often dont have the vision that enables them to look past their current unhappiness or frustratio
    • Why Some Teens Have Trouble With Their Parents
      Even if you enjoyed the years of preadolescence, your child can do a complete 180 when making the transition to true-blue teen. The teen brain is constantly developing and changing, which means that while your teen might think hes an adult, he doesnt