Before You Teach Kids to Read Social Cues, Help Them Read Their Own

If you're teaching social communication and only focusing on reading others, you're missing the most important piece: interoception and self-awareness.

Many students can tell you what a "friend should do"—but they have no idea how to notice what's happening in their own body before or during a conversation. And without that internal awareness, it's nearly impossible to co-regulate, know when to step back, or even understand why something felt overwhelming.

The Game-Changer: Start With Body Wisdom

Here's what I've discovered working with hundreds of students: when kids can recognize their own early signals of excitement, overwhelm, or readiness, everything shifts. Communication becomes internal first, then external.

Their bodies are already giving them perfect information—they just need help tuning in.

Use This Tomorrow: The "Body Signal Map"

Try this with your student (or whole group):

1. Draw a simple stick figure on a whiteboard or paper

2. Ask: "What does your body feel like when you're excited to connect with someone?"

   • Heart beats faster? Hands get energetic? Eyes light up?

3. Then ask: "What does your body feel like when you need some space?"

   • Shoulders tense? Energy feels low? Want to look away?

4. Label these signals together on the drawing

This becomes a visual anchor they can check in with before any social interaction.

Bonus: Pair this with a simple 1-5 scale so students can quickly assess their "connection readiness" throughout the day.

Why This Changes Everything

Most approaches teach conversation starters and social scripts. Few teach students when and why their nervous system might not be ready to use them.

When students understand their internal landscape first, they can:

• Make choices that honor their energy levels

• Communicate their needs before overwhelm hits

• Access their social skills when their body is actually ready

That's where authentic communication grows with internal safety and body awareness.

Ready to Transform Your Social Communication Approach?

Download my FREE Social-Executive Function Screener to identify whether students need social communication building or executive function supports first. This quick assessment reveals what's really happening beneath social interactions.

→ Get Your Free Screener Here

Want to dive deeper? Book a coaching call and I'll help you create body-aware, brain-matched supports that actually work for your specific students.

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Stop teaching social communication skills to overwhelmed nervous systems. Start with the body and then watch communication naturally unfold.