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Social Greeting
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with social greeting.
10 published answers · English
Signs & concerns
At what age should a child use social greetings?
Children typically begin simple social greetings — waving, smiling back, saying "hi" — between 9 and 15 months, and greet familiar people warmly by 2 to 3 years. Some variation is normal; steady progress in connecting with people matters most.
Read the answer AnswerCould difficulty with social greeting be a sign of a developmental delay?
Difficulty with social greeting can be one early sign worth watching in children aged 3–7, but on its own it rarely means a delay — shyness and temperament are common reasons. What matters is the wider pattern across communication, gesture, eye contact and play. Watch for greeting that doesn't grow over months, shows up across many settings, or sits alongside limited speech and interest in others. This is to observe and, if it persists, to have checked — never to diagnose at home.
Read the answer AnswerIs It Normal My Child Isn't Yet Showing Social Greeting?
For most children aged 3–7, a friendly social greeting is emerging and steadying with age. If your child isn't yet greeting, it is often within normal range — especially for shy or cautious children — but a developmental check is wise if greeting is clearly absent across settings or paired with other social-communication differences. This is not a diagnosis, just an early, kind opportunity to support connection.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing social greeting?
Not yet showing social greeting — waving, saying hi or bye — is not a diagnosis. Between 3 and 7, most children greet familiar people, but shyness and temperament vary. It matters most when it sits alongside other social-communication differences, such as little eye contact, not responding to their name, or few words. That pattern is a reason to arrange a developmental check, because early, play-based support works well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with social greeting?
Between about 3 and 7 years, most children greet familiar people with a wave, smile, eye contact or a simple hi or bye, increasingly on their own. Signs your child may need support include rarely returning greetings, not noticing when greeted, turning away, or needing heavy prompting every time. These are signs to observe and share with a professional, not to diagnose at home. Consider a screen if differences are consistent across people and settings, show little progress over months, or appear with other communication or social-play differences.
Read the answer AnswerWhen do children usually start social greeting?
Most children begin social greetings such as waving around 9–12 months, pair a wave with "bye-bye" by 12–15 months, and greet familiar people more spontaneously by 3–4 years. Gentle reminders remain normal through the preschool years.
Read the answerTherapy & support
How can a teacher support a child working on social greeting?
A teacher supports social greeting through a predictable daily greeting routine, clear modelling, flexible greeting choices (wave, word, high-five), visual cues, peer buddies and warm praise for every attempt. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat therapy helps a child learn social greeting?
Children learn social greetings mainly through speech and language therapy and play-based social skills therapy, often with occupational therapy support, all reinforced by parent and teacher coaching in everyday routines. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answerAt home
Helping Your Child Learn Social Greeting at Home
Teach social greeting at home through warm modelling, predictable daily routines and breaking the skill into small steps — a wave, then eye contact, then a word, then a name — celebrating every attempt your child makes.
Read the answer AnswerWhat is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with social greeting?
Use the daily "Hello Routine": pair a warm word with a wave at every arrival and goodbye, pause to give your child a turn, and celebrate any attempt. Repeating it in real-life moments turns a prompted greeting into a natural, confident habit.
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