Been working with my 12 year old on his handshake. A lot of kids these days have this limp fish thing going on. I'm not being harsh about it but I want him to understand that how you greet someone says a lot about your character. We've been practicing and he's getting better. Eye contact, firm grip, not crushing but solid. Anyone else make this a priority with their kids?
You're teaching him confidence at the same time without even realizing it. That firm grip shows you've got nothing to be ashamed of. Good stuff.
Yes! Nobody talks about this enough. I worked on the same thing with my oldest. It's one of those little things that actually matters when they're meeting adults.
My 12 year old still does the dead fish thing. How long did it take him to actually remember to do it without you reminding him? And does he practice with just you or do you have him shake hands with other people too?
This matters more than people realize. Kids these days are so used to fist bumps and high fives that a real handshake feels like a lost art. Props for teaching him the right way.
Good instinct. That limp handshake thing drives me nuts. It's not about being tough, it's about showing confidence and respect. Your son's going to stand out in a good way.
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The firm handshake thing is real. You can tell a lot about a person from it. Your 12 year old is going to stand out when he walks into job interviews and meets new people.