{"h1":"If a Child Isn't Showing Social Greeting Yet","faq":[{"a":"Greetings like smiling back, waving and saying or signing \"hi\" and \"bye\" usually emerge between about 9 and 18 months. Every child arrives at their own pace, so a small delay alone is rarely a worry — but it's worth watching alongside other social steps.","q":"At what age should a child start showing social greeting?"},{"a":"Model warm hellos and goodbyes throughout the day, weave them into routines, pause to give the child a turn, and celebrate any attempt. Hundreds of small, playful exchanges build the skill.","q":"How can I encourage greeting as a caregiver?"},{"a":"Arrange a calm check if greeting isn't appearing alongside other social-communication steps — not responding to name by 12 months, no waving or pointing by 12–15 months, or few words by 16–18 months. Early support works beautifully at this age.","q":"When should I arrange a developmental check?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","title":"Caregiver Guide: When a Child Isn't Greeting Yet","entity":{"key":"social-greeting","kind":"skill","name":"social greeting","slug":"social-greeting"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Caregiver","value":"caregiver"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Social","value":"social"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing social greeting?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-social-greeting","title":"When do children usually start social greeting?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","title":"Is It Normal My Child Isn't Yet Showing Social Greeting?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-social-greeting","title":"At what age should a child use social greetings?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"during-a-home-visit-what-should-a-frontline-worker-observe-about-a-child-learning-to-social-greeting","title":"Social Greeting: What to Observe on a Home Visit"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social","title":"What to do if a child isn't yet showing social skills"}],"summary":"Social greeting — waving, smiling back, saying \"hi\" — usually emerges between about 9 and 18 months, at each child's own pace. As a caregiver, keep modelling warm greetings, weave them into daily routines, and arrange a calm developmental check if greeting isn't growing alongside other social-communication steps like responding to name, pointing or babble. This is not a diagnosis — it's an early, supportive look, because gentle play-based help works beautifully at this age.","answer_md":"*A wave, a smile, a shy \"hi\" — these little hellos grow at their own pace, and your gentle attention helps them bloom.*\n\n## In short\nSocial greeting — waving, smiling back, saying or signing \"hi\" and \"bye\" — usually emerges between about 9 and 18 months, but every child arrives at their own time. As a caregiver, the best things you can do are keep modelling warm greetings, build them into daily routines, and arrange a calm developmental check if the skill isn't appearing alongside other social-communication steps. This is not a diagnosis — it's a wise, early look that helps you support the child with confidence.\n\n## What to watch\nGreeting is one thread in a child's wider social weave. Gentle signs that a clinician's eye would help include:\n\n- **No shared looking or smiling back** when you greet them face to face.\n- **Not responding to their name** by around 12 months.\n- **No early gestures** — no waving, pointing or reaching to be picked up by 12–15 months.\n- **Few or no words** by 16–18 months, or little babble used to \"talk\" to people.\n- **Greeting that isn't growing** — staying the same over weeks despite warm, repeated modelling.\n\nThe aim is reassurance, not alarm: most children simply need more playful practice, and a check tells you exactly where they are.\n\n## The science\nGreeting sits within ICF activity-and-participation (d7, interpersonal interactions). It is learnt through hundreds of warm, repeated exchanges — eye contact, turn-taking, copying. Naming the greeting, pausing to give a turn, and celebrating any attempt all strengthen it. When greeting lags alongside other social steps, early playful support works beautifully at this age.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Our clinicians watch how the child connects, then build support around play. You can read more about [social greeting](/social-greeting) and how our [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) team nurtures early connection.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICF framework for interpersonal interactions (chapter d7); CDC \"Learn the Signs, Act Early\" milestones on social and communication development; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on early social-emotional milestones.\n\n**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental assessment](/enroll) with a Pinnacle clinician for a warm, clear picture of the child's social milestones.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"}],"meta_title":"Child Not Showing Social Greeting: What to Do","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Make hellos and goodbyes a playful ritual — wave and say \"hi\" warmly at the door, with family members, even to toys. Pause, give the child a turn, and celebrate any attempt, however small.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:30:00.197931+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","title":"Is It Normal My Child Isn't Yet Showing Social Greeting?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-social-greeting","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing social greeting?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-social-greeting","title":"When do children usually start social greeting?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-social-greeting","title":"At what age should a child use social greetings?","reason":"Linked from this 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social greeting delay","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-difficulty-learning-to-social-greeting-a-clinical-red-flag-that-warrants-a-developmental-referral","title":"Is difficulty with social greeting a developmental red flag?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-social-greeting","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":11},{"key":"assess","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-clinician-assess-and-track-a-child-s-progress-in-learning-to-social-greeting","title":"How a clinician assesses and tracks social greeting","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-social-greeting-what-does-that-mean","title":"Amber Zone for Social Greeting: What It Means","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-social-greeting-what-does-that-mean","title":"Green Zone for Social Greeting Explained","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-social-greeting-what-does-that-mean","title":"Red Zone for Social Greeting — What It Means","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":4},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-social-greeting","title":"Techniques to develop social greeting","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-child-working-on-social-greeting","title":"How can a teacher support a child working on social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-social-greeting","title":"How can a teacher support a student who is still learning to social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-social-greeting","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the amber zone for social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-green-zone-for-social-greeting","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the green zone for social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-social-greeting","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the red zone for social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-social-greeting-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Amber zone for social greeting — your next step","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-social-greeting-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Green zone for social greeting: what to do next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-social-greeting-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Red Zone in Social Greeting — Your Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-therapy-helps-a-child-learn-to-social-greeting","title":"What therapy helps a child learn social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":10},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-social-greeting-during-everyday-routines","title":"Helping Your Child Practise Social Greetings at Home","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-social-greeting-at-home","title":"Helping Your Child Learn Social Greeting at Home","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-social-greeting","title":"What is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with social greeting?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Seek a developmental check if the child doesn't smile back or share looking when greeted, doesn't respond to their name by ~12 months, shows no waving, pointing or reaching by 12–15 months, has few or no words by 16–18 months, or if greeting isn't growing despite warm, repeated modelling.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC Learn the Signs, Act Early — social milestones"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","label":"WHO ICF — interpersonal interactions (d7)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren — early social-emotional development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:30:00.197931+00:00","meta_description":"A caregiver's calm guide to social greeting — what to watch, how to nurture waving and \"hi\", and when a gentle developmental check helps.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}