Reading Non-verbal Behaviors
The ability to read the non-verbal behaviors of others and to understand the signals you may be sending to others is key to successful communication with others. People who are lacking in these skills face many challenges and can make others around them quite uncomfortable. While this is true for all people, it can be especially challenging for children with disabilities, as this article from Great Schools entitled Helping Kids with Learning Disabilities Understand the Language of Friendship explains. One interesting line of research has focused on assessing people’s ability to read nonverbal behavior using a system known as DANVA (Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy). You can try out the DANVA2 test online if you like. The test presents you with a series of faces that you have to identify as happy, sad, angry, or scared, and then listen to a series of audio recordings, attempting to make the same kind of judgements there as to the speaker’s feelings.
Related Catalog Resources
Below you'll find a randomized listing of up to 20 related items (we may have more...) drawn from our Resource Catalog.
| Resource Title | Description | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to nonverbal communication | Word document introducing workshop on nonverbal communication, with exercises and games. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Name that emotion | Word document that presents an exercise to identify emotions as people act them out without words or sound. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Nonverbal communication for educators | Online learning module consisting of 14-sections "designed to introduce you to key ideas related to nonverbal communication, with a special emphasis on aspects of nonverbal communication that relate to teaching and learning in the classroom. By the completion of this learning module you should be able to: Understand the importance of nonverbal...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Nonverbal communication card game: Voice version | Word document which describes a nonverbal communication game using the voice only, counting from one to ten to express emotions. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Core nonverbal communication concepts | Word document examining nonverbal communication, with exercises and games. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Core nonverbal communication concepts | Twenty-six page training packet exploring nonverbal communication. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Role play for nonverbal involvement activity | Word document presenting a role play exercise in nonverbal communication. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Nonverbal communication card game: Gesture version | Word document with instructions for game in which groups identify nonverbal gestures. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Nonverbal communication and conflict: It's not what you say that counts | Powerpoint presentation exploring nonverbal communication and conflict for children. Introduces PIE in the SKY idea, which stands for Sending and receiving messages of Power, Involvement, and Emotion: Skills and Knowledge for our Youth. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
