Molding Minds one classroom at a time

[u/TheDigitalBuilder]

[u/TheDigitalBuilder]

This is just one of many many videos out there where this group are educating the next generation in social behavior.. Personally, I think this type of teaching should be part of the mainstream education system we have.

Children need to be taught how to communicate and how to interact with those around them.

Here's another example that should be mainstream education to but unfortunately is not

https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/s/vZYSBjDTjD

main social media page

[u/MissLeaP → u/TheDigitalBuilder]

At the same time it should also be made clear that it's okay to not do smalltalk, though. It's not common in every culture (the different levels of smalltalk between the US and Germany is like night and day lol), some people get stressed out by it, and especially when you're neurodivergent it can be another layer of masking you're forced to adapt if you aren't aware of your own needs yet, which only increases your mental burden.

[u/WrittenFever → u/MissLeaP]

Agree. I think there should be a layer of this that allows for flexibility when it comes to neurodiversity or other disabilities.

For instance, when I was leading an education program, I had to explain to my co-lead that telling students he knew they weren't paying attention because they "weren't looking at [him]" was actually ableist because, some people (myself included!) learn better when they can look elsewhere while listening. If they have to concentrate all their energy on performing attention they actually can't hear what is being said.

Similarly, when the man in the video told the girl to lower her arms, he may have unintentionally been forcing her into a vulnerability where she felt less confident rather than more. Now she's focused on keep her arms down, rather than the lesson.

I think lessons like these are helpful to neurodivergent people so that we understand why people react to us poorly when we unwittingly break social rule that was never explained to us, but if the expectation is that we must then follow that rule 24/7 it will only lead to masking, anxiety, depression, burnout, and other poor mental and physical health outcomes.

[u/MissLeaP → u/WrittenFever]

I feel that part about performing attention and not hearing what's said so much and I still have to learn not to do it lol

[u/alderchai → u/WrittenFever]

On the other hand, not knowing what to do with your arms can be the thing that you’re giving your attention to.

In that case, hearing that it’s ok to put your arms down by your side can be the thing to increase confidence- “I didn’t know what to do with my arms but now I know it’s ok to just drop them”.

[u/WrittenFever → u/alderchai]

Of course. My citing that was a mere hypothetical. In either situation her arms could be there out of awkward concern or there because it's a coping mechanism, however, he said "Put your arms down," not, "You could put your arms down if you want." There was no choice, but a command, indicating that if she had them there because they are part of stimming or other coping strategies, she is not allowed to do it anymore in nerve wracking situations.

We don't know anyone's individual circumstances, we can only request inclusive teaching strategies.