Lesson 3 - Backchanneling: While Seated

0:00 - [Jelica] Backchanneling while seated.
0:06 - Backchanneling is important to provide at all times.
0:09 And you're doing a good job of it.
0:11 I'd like to start by providing two examples.
0:17 In the first example the child you're interacting with has forgotten to share their backchanneling feedback.
0:23 Their hand is resting on their own body, feeling nothing.
0:28 You can encourage them to get in touch with you by gently moving their hand onto your leg from underneath.
0:35 Like this.
0:38 Let's do that again.
0:44 This encourages them to maintain this vital contact.
0:47 It is important to remember that both people engage reciprocally n tactile backchanneling, regardless of whether either of them sees or hears.
0:56 When we connect in Protactile, we share touch mutually.
1:00 Both touching the other at the same time, I feel you and you feel me.
1:04 You both share the same tactile ground.
1:07 Your backchanneling responses tell me you're feeling me, and as I give you my back channeling, I communicate the same to you.
1:14 Returning to our examples, both illustrative ways to correctly establish backchanneling.
1:20 In the first example, you're encouraging backchanneling when it's not forthcoming.
1:28 In the second example, the child initiates backchanneling on their own.
1:32 In this case of course, you don't need to move their hand onto you.
1:35 And you certainly don't need to do that every time.
1:38 But this demonstration shows you how to encourage a child to learn backchanneling through encouragement and example, because kids will want to emulate you.
1:49 Backchanneling can be given on the leg, as seen here in this circle; on the shoulders or upper chest, this is a good place to provide positive or negative reinforcement.
2:06 And if for some reason, the location is found to be uncomfortable, then backchanneling can be provided on a different one.
2:14 Instead of the leg, we could use the upper chest and shoulder area, as seen here in this green circle.
2:20 The forearm is a common location for back-channeling as well, as seen in the green circle.
2:28 And it can be used if a person doesn't like receiving it on their leg.
2:40 Places that are off limits for backchanneling are the face and the head, as seen in these two circles.
2:59 Otherwise, the upper portion of the chest, from one shoulder across to the other, from the shoulder down to the wrist, and the top of the thigh can all be used.
3:08 I will demonstrate some other locations later.
3:11 Seated as we are with one another now, we would most likely use the chest, shoulder, upper arm, lower arm, or thigh.
3:20 The back of the hand could also be used, but not the back of the hand that is coupled, nor would I reach across your body to the opposite thigh.
3:28 I would give you backchanneling feedback on those areas that are most readily accessible and comfortable.
3:33 Such as the thigh nearest me, your forearm, upper arm, upper chest, or shoulders.