4. Meet and Greet
Many children, when faced with meeting someone for the first time, deal with their anxiety by being rude or simply ignoring the other person—looking away, pretending not to hear them, or simply feigning all-around ignorance. Instilling caution when encountering strangers is a good thing for parents to do, but when you’re introducing your child to a new person, they can and should try to put their nervousness aside and be polite. This entails “handshake, smile and eye contact,” says Davidds-Wright. And teaching the power of a good strong handshake shouldn’t be underestimated. My father taught me a firm grip as a young girl, and I continue to receive compliments on it to this day.
