8 • MODULE THREE: COMMUNICATION
ACTIVITY FOUR
Mixed Messages
Group check in- Start off the discussion by telling the children that sometimes our verbal and non-verbal
messages get mixed up and can give mixed messages. Sometimes these mixed messages can
be harmful because the person receiving the message can take advantage of what you say or
do. Children can be forced to do things they never really wanted. - Begin with a quick game. Ask the children to stand in a semi-circle. The facilitator says: “Listen
to what I say and do what I say. Those who do not do this must leave the activity.”
Start simple: Raise your head, raise your left leg, and shake your right hand. Demonstrate
actions with the command.
Next give the instruction, but do a different action. For example, instruct the children to touch
their head, but perform the action of touching your nose. All of those who do not follow your
verbal instructions are out. Remind them of what you said at the beginning of the game.
Ask the group to comment on what happened. Why was there confusion? - Place the children in a circle. They must do an activity such as dressing up. The person next to
the child asks what s/he is doing. The child doing the action must say something entirely
different such as, “I am driving a car!” That child now performs what was said (driving the car)
and the person next in the circle asks what s/he is doing. What the child says becomes the
action for the next person.
This is great fun, and the more you exaggerate the actions, the greater the children enjoy
theexercise.
Review
Ask the children to comment on the activity. Discuss with them the fact that we often say
something but do something entirely different. What kind of problems can that create in real life?
Mention that one of the biggest reasons why children get into risky situations is due to mixed
messages given by them. Ask them to recall any incident similar that they have witnessed. If
possible, act out what happened.Linking Learning With Life
Ask the children if this happens in their own life, and discuss the matter with them. Ask them to
give examples and observe themselves and others until the next time they meet. What confusion
did the mixed message create? Have they ever given confused messages? An example of sending
a mixed message in real life can be when someone says weakly “I do not want to smoke” and later
joins friends for a smoke.