Have you ever had an awkward first conversation with someone? You feel uncomfortable, laughing uncontrollably, and uncertain how to break the ice. We’ve all been there, and we definitely don’t want to go through it. While it seems like a situation that almost everyone has experienced as an adult, kids are running in to it almost every day too. Whether they’re at a classroom, playground, or sports practice, they’re meeting new kids and are bound to feel unsure about themselves. The good news is, teaching them good manners and pleasant greetings can help them thrive in almost any social setting.
Good Manners and Better Body Language
The first step to teaching your kid greeting is to have them practice having a friendly presence. If they’re approached, tell them to start by standing up to acknowledge the person and flashing a warm smile. A smile is one of the most powerful tools we have to make a connection as it puts others ease. Explain that extending a hand to shake or wave “hello” is key to start talking to anyone politely. While it may seem complicated at first, dropping the hint to mirror their peer’s body language is key to appearing likeable as well. Uncrossing their arms, facing towards their conversation partner, and not shifting too often will help the other person to feel more welcomed and payed attention to.
Starting a Conversation
Since there’s a variety of words and phrases used in greetings, using flashcards, or having them listen to your conversation with another adult can teach them what to use depending on the context of the situation. Besides the basic “Hello”, “How are you?”, and “Bye”, teach them to recognize when other’s say statements like “I’m tired” or “It’s late” to start a conversation as well. An easy way to help them learn cues is to draw speech bubbles with a greeting or goodbye and have your child write the appropriate response.
Help your child to also practice being positive, ask their peer questions, and be a good listener above all. For example, letting them know that they should wait their turn to talk, focus on what their peer has to say, and ask about the other person’s interests, family, or hobbies is a great starting point. Getting someone to open up about themselves helps form a connection which can eventually lead to a new friend as time goes on.
Asking your child to practice telling stories and making feedback comments is important as well for them to have a two-way conversation. Getting them to think about the types of things they can tell a story about, like a family road trip, favorite book, or a funny joke. Brainstorm with them any appropriate phrases that they can use after listening to another person’s story too. With examples of dialogue from you, demonstrate with role play how wrongly timed comments can make them come across as rude or not interested in the other child’s words.
Remember, learning how to navigate introductions and greeting others should be a fun experience and a chance for your child to grow their confidence. With these tips you can help them prepare for building new connections and blossom as social butterflies with the people around them. It’s in your hands to make your child ready to better speak their mind, learn new things, and express themselves!