Been working with my 8 year old on how to give a firm handshake. Not crushing the other guy's hand, but definitely not that limp fish thing either. He's naturally shy so we've been practicing at family gatherings. His uncle said he noticed the improvement last weekend and it made me proud as hell. A man's handshake says something about his character. Seems like a small thing but it matters.
Eight is the perfect age for this. My kids are getting there and I realized I was never really taught how to do it properly either so we're learning together.
The trick is showing him in the mirror first so he can see what you're doing. Makes it click way faster than just explaining it.
Love this. It's one of those old school things that still matters. Teaching him not to crush people's hands is part of it but so is showing him that how you greet someone says something about who you are.
Eight is exactly the right age for this. Noticed our son's confidence went up once he felt like he could do something 'grown up' properly. Have you practiced with him on eye contact too or just the hand part?
This is such a good thing to teach early. I've been working on this with my son too. The hand thing is just the start - it's about teaching him confidence and respect in general.
Sign in to join the conversation.
This is such a good skill to teach early. My 8 year old is just getting there too and I've noticed it actually helps his confidence in other situations. A firm handshake is like a small superpower for kids.