This introduces children to greetings, farewells, and consent. This is an activity that is referenced in all lessons at lesson close.
Skills Addressed
Communication
Connecting with Others
Independence
Activity Details
Introduce children to the 3 Hs & a Wave: High-Five, Handshake, Hug, and Wave. Tell them that they can greet others using one of these 3 Hs & a Wave.
Talk about when it is appropriate to do each of these. (i.e., Do you hug a stranger? No. What is an appropriate way to greet a stranger? Do you hug your mom/dad/grandma? Do you hug your friend?)
This is a good time to talk about consent. If you want to give your friend a high-five, handshake, or hug, you should ask them: “Can I give you a high-five/handshake/hug?” If you do not want to high-five, shake hands, or hug any person, you do not have to.
Reinforce body parts by asking which body parts are used for each of the 3 Hs & a Wave.
Encourage children to practice using the 3 Hs & a Wave by choosing one to use with each other to demonstrate what to do. Remind them to ask: “Can I give you a high-five/handshake/hug?” and hear a “yes” response before giving a high-five/handshake/hug.
When caregivers return, have the children practice one of the 3 Hs & a Wave with their caregiver. Demonstrate introductions and have children practice introducing themselves to each other.
