Body Language
How do you know someone is not interested?
They avoid eye contact or look away a lot.
Their body is turned away from you.
They give short or no answers.
They fidget or seem distracted.
What does it mean to read the room?
It means paying attention to how people are feeling and what’s happening around you.
What is an example of a small rejection vs. a big resection?
Small rejection: Someone says “no” when you ask to play a game or borrow something.
Big rejection: Not being included in a group you really want to be part of, or losing an important opportunity.
“I forgot my part of the project at home!”
“That’s okay, now I will explain what I was going to say and bring it tomorrow.”
How to enter an existing conversation?
Wait for a pause or a good moment to jump in.
How do you know if someone is interested?
They make eye contact and smile.
They lean slightly toward you.
They ask questions and keep the conversation going.
Their body is facing you and they nod while you speak.
How do we read the room?
Watch people’s body language: Are they smiling, frowning, crossing arms, looking away?
Listen to their tone of voice: Is it happy, quiet, angry, or tired?
Notice other clues like how loud the room is, what people are talking about, or if people look busy or relaxed.
What do we do if we are rejected?
Take a deep breath and stay calm.
Remember that rejection happens to everyone sometimes.
Think about what you can do next or try again later.
Talk to someone you trust if you feel upset.
“My friend said no when I asked to play tag.”
“That’s okay, now I will ask someone else or play another game.”
How to end...
Use polite phrases like:
“It was nice talking with you!”
“I’ve got to go now, but I hope we can chat again soon.”
How do you know if something is private?
People speak quietly or whisper.
They use closed body language like crossed arms or turning away.
They don’t share details with others around.
They might say “This is private” or “Don’t tell anyone.”
How do we read the room?
Watch people’s body language: Are they smiling, frowning, crossing arms, looking away?
Listen to their tone of voice: Is it happy, quiet, angry, or tired?
Notice other clues like how loud the room is, what people are talking about, or if people look busy or relaxed.
How do we handle a small rejection differently than a big rejection?
For small rejection, we can usually move on quickly and try something else or ask someone else.
For big rejection, it’s okay to feel sad or upset for a while, and sometimes we need to talk with friends, family, or a trusted adult to get support.
“They don’t have my favorite food for dinner.”
“That’s okay, now I will try the new food or eat something else I like.”
How to start...
Look for something you both have in common (like a class, a hobby, or the place you’re in).
How do you know if someone seems upset?
Their face looks sad, tense, or angry.
They might avoid eye contact or have tears.
Their shoulders may slump or they may have a stiff posture.
They may sigh, have a quiet voice, or seem quiet.
How do we use investigative skills to learn things about others?
ask open-ended questions to find out more (e.g., “What do you like to do?”).
When do we decide to get help?
When feelings from rejection don’t go away after some time.
“I missed the ball during practice.”
“That’s okay, now I will keep trying and practice more.”
How to Change the Subject
Find something in the current conversation to connect to your new topic.
Example: “That reminds me of…” or “Speaking of movies, did you see the new trailer for…?”
How do you know if someone is busy
They don’t look at you or respond quickly.
They focus on a task like typing, reading, or talking on the phone.
They may say, “I’m busy right now.”
They seem distracted and don’t have time to talk.
How do we use investigative skills to learn things about others?
Use clues from their appearance or environment (like a sports jersey or backpack stickers) to learn about them.
When do we decide to move forward and let something go?
When we can find new goals, activities, or friends to focus on instead.
“My painting didn’t turn out like I wanted.”
“That’s okay, now I will try a new design or add more colors.”
How to Practice Active Listening
Make eye contact and face the speaker.
Nod or smile to show you’re following along.
Use short responses like “I see,” “That’s interesting,” or “Wow!”
Ask questions to learn more or clarify.