The grown-up who kneels has changed more than the height of the conversation.

Getting down to a child’s level moves more than your knees. It takes away the looming, puts two faces on the same plane and turns instruction into conversation, which changes what the child can say back. Adults forget how much of talking to a small person is settled by posture. The body arrives before the words do.

Try it this week with a child, or with anyone in a bed or a wheelchair. Sit or kneel so your eyes are level rather than speaking down from above. Notice how differently it goes when nobody has to look up to be heard.