Tracy: Communication Skills: Language, non-verbal listening

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Communication Skills: Language, non-verbal listening

I watched a fun show that always makes me laugh. I watched Big Bang Theory. It is actually a show I have been watching for a few years and I love it. I watched a brand new episode with the sound off. It was pretty predictable and since I had seen it many times before kind of had an idea of what was going and what the idea of what they were probably talking about. I knew by their body language who was mad at who, where they were and the idea of what they were dicsussing.

When I watched the show with sound I was pretty close to what I predicted had happened. It was obviously funnier and much more entertaining with the sound. I was off on a couple of the story lines but for the most part correct. I did find myself much more in-tune to what they were doing and their facial expressions and body language with the sound off. I normally don't pay that close attention.

It was interesting to have to pay extra attention and concentrate so much on a typically mindless activity.

2 comments:

AnonymousMarch 11, 2012 at 1:49 PM
I too love the Big Bang Theory. Isn't it interesting how we rely on other senses when we are unable to use one sense. I too was more in-tune with facial expressions and body language than I normally am when I am relying on what my sense of hearing over my sense of sight. It made me realize how our body compensates when we are unable to use a specific sense in a situation. Do you think you would have had a harder time understanding what was occurring if it had been a show you had never seen before?
Amy
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"My Connections to Play"

Two quotes:

Vygotsky - "Children use private speech in play to regulate behavior"

"Creative play is a central activity in the lives of healthy children."
Almon, K. (2002) The vital role of play in early childhood
education. Gateways, 43.

My family, especially my mom, was very supportive of play. She recognized its importance. My sister and I loved to play with our friends. She would take us to the community pool and parks and we would play all day. When we got a little older we got a trampoline and jumped on it for much of the day. We had a playroom above our garage in Tennessee and we played there for many hours even though it got very hot at times. My sister and I loved to play with dolls. My mom always said she would be my best friend and as we got older did not encourage many outside friendships. I think that hurt our social skills a little. Now we talk every once in a while, have very different lives and see each other about 2-3 times per year. Even though we are still very close and had many years of play as children, we have drifted apart. My dad was really good at playing with us also. He took us on our boat all the time and encouraged more of the rough and tumble type of play. Both my mom and taught us to be resourceful and take care of ourselves, almost to a fault.

As I attempt to write my blog assignement I feel play has changed a great deal since when we were younger. We would go all day without seeing the inside of our house and find things to play with. All three of my boys are sitting around my table asking me questions and saying they are bored. I live about 2 blocks from one of the most beautiful lakes and beaches in the country and 1 block from an elementary school playground. There are children all over this neighborhood to play with and they are asking me what they can do. Where have I gone wrong in this scenario? They have come to rely on me as their "social director" and I have probably enabled that. Play is very different. I am going to cancel cable and hide the playstation and nintendo ds's for the summer. My kids are older and possibly beyond help. I hope that young children will be pulled away from the computers, tv and other electronic devices. I hope they will be in a safe place to be able to venture out and make friends. Parents need to be more confident in their childrens ability and need to become independent players. I think sometimes parents protect their children and don't let them make mistakes at an early age.

I have included pictures of my boys below at the beach. This is what we love to do these days. This was on a spring break vacation. My youngest sons favorite toy was a palm branch he found the first day. Again, an item from nature that I didn't have to purchase that entertained him. Nice!!