Noticing how each person's tone of voice changes the way the conversation goes.
Hearing how a sarcastic or sharp tone can change a simple answer.
Exploring how tone can show feelings that the words alone do not say.
Thinking about how a stern tone can make someone feel defensive.
Considering how a calmer tone might lead to a different outcome.
Riley and her parents are eating dinner together. We also see inside their heads, where emotion characters control how each person reacts. Mom asks Riley about her day, and Riley answers in a short, sarcastic way. Mom tries to get Dad to help, but he is distracted and not really listening. Dad joins in with a stern tone, the talk turns tense, and he sends Riley to her room.
• What did you notice about the tone of voice Riley used at the beginning?
• How did Riley's tone change during the conversation?
• How did Dad's tone change?
• How do you think Dad felt when Riley answered him that way?
• What did the way the characters spoke tell you that words did not?
• How did the conversation change as the tones got sharper?
• When has a tone of voice made a conversation go better or worse for you?
• How might Riley and her dad have misunderstood each other's tone?
• What tone of voice could have helped calm things down?
The questions within this guide are designed to open dialogue and facilitate discussion around the relevant topics. It is up to the user to adapt as needed to best suit the person they are supporting. A neuroaffirming approach was central to the design of these resources and remains essential to their application. This means recognising and respecting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world, ensuring all conversations are led with curiosity, respect, and without judgement. These resources are a starting point. Trust your knowledge of the person you are supporting to shape the conversation from there.
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