How can you use body language to show empathy during parent-teacher meetings?

Es fundamental aprender a comunicar de forma no verbal. Nuestros movimientos, nuestras expresiones no verbales comunican tanto como nuestras palabras, por lo que es fundamental aprender a hacerlo como aprender a hablar.

Empathy is the most profound emotion that is like a prerequisite for any facilitator at any given time. Gentle smile and reassuring posture is a trait to display empathy.

To show empathy during parent-teacher meetings, use open and welcoming body language. Maintain eye contact, nod in understanding, and use facial expressions to convey empathy. Additionally, practice active listening by leaning slightly forward and mirroring the parent's emotions to create a connection.

To achieve this goal, it is very important to keep an active listening attitude. People need to be listened to and it is crucial to stay calm and not interrupt them. In addition, we will be able to know and understand each individual’s body language and ways of communication. Empathizing is also mirroring approaches and modes of verbal communication, therefore it is important to maintain an attentive mindset and observe. The moment when we can verbally empathize or eventually discuss a particular topic will come in a more natural and sympathetic way.

During parent-teacher meetings, empathy matters because it helps you to understand the perspectives of the parents and the children. For example, if a parent is concerned that his/her shy child has trouble making friends, you can reassure the parent that you know that they only want the best for the child, and maybe work on it together and provide regular updates. Another example could be if a child struggles with math-- you can exercise empathy here by saying something along the lines of knowing how they are feeling, and how many other students struggle, not just them. Although it may be hard to master, it is not impossible, it is up to the teacher to exercise that empathy and find a way to make learning a pleasurable experience.

Eye contact is the first thing you have to do in order to increase confidence and trust. Your body position should be in front of the parents (or any audience).

Eye contact is a crucial aspect of empathy, but yes, I do agree there needs to be a balance, so that there is not too much, nor too little. In my opinion, too much seems a bit weird to me, and too little may come across as disinterested. Definitely maintain eye contact when the parent is expressing their concern to you, and keep those non-verbal cues in check. Similarly, maintain eye contact with the parent as you are speaking and providing advice-- how weird is it to look off in the distance while you're talking to someone?

El contacto visual con nuestro auditorio es fundamental, es se?al de confianza; demuestra a la otra persona que su presencia es valorada, que lo que se está transmitinedo es sólido.

Pay attention to the emotions the parent is expressing and subtly mirror them in your facial expressions while maintaining eye contact. This mirroring can help parents feel understood and validated in their feelings. At times, a pause in the conversation while maintaining eye contact can be powerful. It allows a moment of silent understanding and shows that you are processing what they have said, giving their words importance. In moments of delivering difficult news or feedback, soften your gaze. This gentler approach in eye contact can convey compassion and care, reducing the potential for the parent to feel defensive.

Showing empathy and caring through eye contact is critical and essential with the parents as an academic advisor it means that I care about your son's/ daughter's academic, educational, and social life at the university. Eye contact with parents shows confidence and trust and how caring and trustful person you are as an advisor that they can rely on him for a better future for their children.

Facial expressions say everything! Definitely match your facial expressions to your verbal messages. For example, greet the parent with a smile, and perhaps a handshake and a "nice to meet you" if this is the first time meeting them. Keep your demeanor warm and welcoming, it shows that you actually are interested in what the parent has to say, and the parent is likely to feel more comfortable with someone who is pleasant. When the parent is expressing their concern, perhaps show some curiosity so that they will get the message that you are interested and want to know more. When closing the meeting, maintain the same pleasant attitude, and show them that you are happy they brought their concerns to you.

To use facial expressions effectively, it's crucial to align them with your verbal messages, ensuring consistency and avoiding mixed signals. Mirroring the parent's facial expressions fosters a sense of connection and rapport, enhancing mutual understanding.

Es muy importante el buen uso de las expresiones faciales que hablan por nosotros. Estas, a ser posible deberán ir acompa?adas de leves gestos que se "solapen" con el disentir de la conversación y con aquello que están experimentado las familias a través de la entrevista. Los gestos de calma, las leves sonrisas, el asentir o disentir con la cabeza según corresponda, harán sentir a tu interlocutor que le acompa?as. En el contexto de las entrevistas escolales, puede ser que a veces, incluso un "apretón de manos" a las familias les haga sentir acompa?ados desde nuestra capacidad de empatizar.

1. Active Listening Posture Maintain an open and attentive posture. Face the parent directly, lean slightly forward, and make eye contact. This signals that you are actively listening and value what they are saying. 2. Facial Expressions Use facial expressions to convey warmth and understanding. Smile genuinely, and express empathy through facial cues such as nodding in agreement or showing concern when discussing challenges or successes. 3. Open Gestures Use open and inviting gestures. Keep your arms uncrossed, and use gestures that reflect openness and receptiveness. Avoid defensive or closed-off postures that may create a barrier.

A leitura das express?es faciais dos discentes possibilita ao docente uma melhor compreens?o da forma pela qual estes est?o interagindo com o conteúdo ministrado.

Los gestos son cruciales a la hora de enfatizar una idea. Podemos marcar seguridad o generar todo lo contrario. El movimiento de las manos de un interlocutor, permite que la audiencia mantenga la atención, no obstante la excesiva gesticulación y movimientos puede generar que el auditorio se distraiga.

Effectively using gestures involves ensuring they are natural, appropriate, and aligned with verbal messages. Avoiding exaggerated, distracting, or offensive gestures is crucial to maintaining a positive and respectful communication environment.

Os gestos estrategicamente inseridos no contexto da aula possibilita retomar a aten??o dos discentes no conteúdo apresentado,

Posture can also say a lot about a person. Sit up straight and keep your posture open and comfortable. Be careful not to slouch or appear closed off (i.e. crossing your arms in front of you). Lean in slightly to show them you are ready to listen to them, and want to know more about any concerns they may have about the child. Having an open and comfortable posture like this can be very reassuring to the parent, and they will feel like they can trust you, and that you truly want to help them and the child.

A postura é importante para passar a ciência do professor tanto quanto a abertura para com a família e a recep??o para com o aluno. Uma Boa postura coloca-nos a disposi??o e também mostra firmeza… enfim, saber ter postura é muito mais do que posi??es do corpo mas também disposi??o do espírito docente !

Effectively using posture involves adopting a relaxed, comfortable, and balanced stance while avoiding tension, rigidity, or slouching. Open, receptive, and respectful postures, like facing the parent, maintaining an appropriate distance, or leaning slightly towards them, create an atmosphere of engagement and understanding.

A postura docente impinge ao discente a sua autoridade, assim como esta pode ser usada para dinamizar o conteúdo apresentado.

Using your voice to show understanding and empathy during parent-teacher meetings is a great way to start on a path to open communication. The ultimate goal of both the teacher and parent is what is best for the child. By showing a parent that their child's needs are important to you, you are more likely to get a cooperative relationship with the parent. Having parents and teachers on the same page it allows for reinforcement and for the the child to see everyone is on the same page.

I think that, apart from body language, it is also important to present yourself well-dressed (clean and neutral preferably). It will also help if you prepare a nice and comfortable room.

According to my experience, facilitators should be reliable. Those who come to the meeting need to know that they will be listened to. We must also adjust our language. There are words that can drastically change the tone of the meeting for the better or the worse. If we need to introduce or eventually impose a rule or an idea that is not convenient for them, it is better not to rush but to wait for the opportunity. Timing is essential. Once they have been able to express their concerns in a receptive environment, people tend to be more open. Therefore, it would be advisable not to set a fixed length for the meeting whenever it is possible.

Alexithmyia (emotional blindness), for example, for severe ASD symptoms, is one of the biggest issues that I have to tackle through individual or group sessions that involve normal peers to let autistics learn how to interact or contribute to daily life skills. According to me, I usually depend on simple, quiet background music to reduce their anxiety rate and enhance their motivation to behave properly. then choose the perfect moment for vocal cues to simplify language acquisition. It's called a facilitative language strategy. At the end of the day, you find yourself, as a human being, should be patient and stand side by side as the last man standing for the parents. And if you just finished my words and felt them, it's a kind of empathy.

Keep a hot beverage with you at all times such as coffee or tea; people associate this with visual with warm people and often feel more relaxed or comfortable because of this.

If the meeting becomes emotionally charged, it is important to remember that the parents are behaving in a way they feel is in the best interest of their child, even if our experience suggests otherwise. If it becomes apparent that the meeting is going to be non-productive, de-escalate and and reschedule so that cooler heads can prevail.