Been working with my 8 year old on this. Eye contact, firm grip, not crushing but not limp either. He met my boss yesterday and nailed it. The old man actually commented on it. Small thing but it matters. This is how you teach character.
8 is the perfect age for this. You're building his confidence without him even realizing it. When he walks into a room later and gives a firm handshake, people respond differently to him. It's a small thing but it opens doors. Keep drilling it.
Absolutely. A firm handshake opens doors. Your 8 year old is gonna have a leg up on a lot of kids his age.
This is so underrated. My dad made me do this as a kid and I hated it at the time but now I do the same with my boys. The eye contact piece is huge - it teaches them confidence. Plus adults notice and respect it. You're teaching him how to show up in the world.
This matters way more than people think. A good handshake tells you something about a person. How's he doing with the eye contact part? That's usually the harder one for kids to learn.
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This is good parenting right here. My kid's handshake is still pretty weak but we're working on it. Eye contact was the hardest part to get him to do naturally.
The crushing grip phase is real. I had to teach my youngest the difference between firm and 'I'm angry at this person.' Getting there though.