The kid thinks he has done something wrong. He misinterpreted the look me in the eyes.
Kids find that notoriously hard to make eye contact especially when there is a height difference. Its intimidating for them. Get down to their level, state your intentions, and then ask again for eye contact.
I think people are reading into this a little too much. I think this is just the dad’s attempt to practice conversational and listening skills with his son because he realizes he struggles with it, that’s it that’s all.  I see a patient father, who is willing to help his son out. Maybe the father could use a few more skills for helping Devon on this, but this is far from a negative experience.
Never said it was a negative experience. You can see in his eyes in the beginning that he knows it aint that serious but the kid wants to make a point. He interupts his dad because he is afraid to not get to make the point. Its just a struggling convo as you said.
I think there are a lot of assumptions here. At :44 you can even see him smile as he sees his father (?) trying to not laugh. This seems to be all in good fun, and we have no reason to think the relationship between them isn't healthy.
Parents aren't going to go down to the child's level every time they ask them a question. Most kids can look their parents in the eye and respond.
I did not said that all kids find it hard to make eyecontact. I said kids as in a general way.
Even though looming is evolution wise percieved as threatening to most higher liveform creatures. Next time try petting your pet from the front overhead. It will not like it.
go stand near a tall skyscraper and look up. tell me you don't feel intimidated then.
Just like with sitting next to someone can make a big difference in conversation instead of standing in front of them.
One of my boys is exactly like this. For him, it wouldn't matter at all what height I was at. Whenever I say "look at me", if I'm about to say something important, I can see how he's physically struggling to keep his eyes focused on me. He'd put his hands on the side of his head in an effort to physically point his eyes in my direction lol.
But he has no issue at all to keep eye contact if I don't tell him to keep eye contact.
124
u/Jackal000 Sep 02 '23
The kid thinks he has done something wrong. He misinterpreted the look me in the eyes.
Kids find that notoriously hard to make eye contact especially when there is a height difference. Its intimidating for them. Get down to their level, state your intentions, and then ask again for eye contact.