"Voice Scale" for Child TPO Practicing [Free Download]
■Voice volume control and Practicing TPO Awareness for kids
Especially in Japanese society, When you speak loudly when you should be quiet, people might think you should "KU-KI YOME" or "K.Y."
Literally translated, "Read the air", it means "can't read the room" or "lacks social awareness " inconsiderate of the situation.
Therefore, in Japanese elementary schools and similar settings, it is important to control one's voice volume appropriately according to the situation. For example, speak loudly when giving a presentation in front of your classmates, and be quiet when listening to others, depending on the situation.
However, some children with developmental disabilities may struggle to control their vocal muscles, resulting in unexpectedly loud voices that are not intentional. From my observation of my children, this seems to be particularly noticeable when they are nervous.
For children who consistently speak loudly, activities like squats and sit-ups that help with overall body control are beneficial. This advice is mentioned in Jun Kimura's book "Reading, Writing, and Communication Play,"
Also for such children, it is helpful to teach appropriate body usage and practice being mindful of voice volume according to the situation using the "Voice scale."
This can also be helpful for children without developmental issues but who are unfamiliar with Japanese customs, such as foreign children.
■How to use
Show them the scale and say, "Here is the volume level you need now." or ask them, "What is your volume of voice now?" when their voice doesn't match the TPO situation.
At times like this, parents and teachers can also help by modeling their voices by making them louder or softer, adjusting to the appropriate level.
This makes it easier for the child to understand and follow, eventually enabling them to adjust their volume even without the scale.
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*In my home, we used to explain voice volume by comparing it to the volume levels on the TV, but since this might vary from household to household, we have adjusted it to a scale of off to 4.
📝ChatGPT's Note
KU-KI YOME: In Japanese culture, this phrase means to read the atmosphere or understand the unspoken rules and expectations in a given situation. It reflects the cultural importance placed on social harmony and awareness of others' feelings.
TPO: This stands for Time, Place, and Occasion, a concept that emphasizes behaving appropriately according to the specific context. It is a widely recognized guideline for social behavior in Japan.
🇯🇵 Original post of this article (Switch to 🇯🇵Japanese mode)
Book version of this article：「発達障害＆グレーゾーン子育てから生まれた 楽々かあさんの伝わる！ 声かけ変換」 大場美鈴・著（2020.6 あさ出版）p.139収録 →Amazon.jp
Translation publication: Korean, Thai, Simplified Chinese/Traditional Chinese
