Greeting a Person

7 months ago · Updated 6 months ago

The Montessori activity of Greeting a Person is an essential component of the Practical Life curriculum, specifically within Graces and Courtesy, offering children the foundational skills of social interaction.

Benefits of Montessori Greeting a Person

Montessori Principles of Greeting a Person

How to Present the Greeting a Person activity

Teaching children to make appropriate eye contact when greeting someone is a crucial element. This helps establish a connection and shows attentiveness and respect.

📏 Range Age: 2.5 - 3.5 years (activity should be adjusted based on the child's age and skill level).

🧠 Prerequisites: Language Activities (vocabulary building activities for polite expressions and greetings), Social Development Activities (Role-playing, observing social interactions), Cognitive Activities (understanding social cues and appropriate responses)
🛠️ Enhancement Skills: Social Skills (developing polite greeting habits, understanding cultural norms), Cognitive Development (recognition of social contexts, empathy), Communication Skills (verbal expressions, appropriate body language).

Progressive Extensions

Making Eye Contact: Children are first taught to make eye contact when someone is speaking to them or when they are greeting someone.
Shaking Hands: Once comfortable with eye contact, children learn to shake hands. They practice a gentle but firm handshake, combined with maintaining eye contact.
Using Polite Words: The next step involves using appropriate greetings like "Hello" or "Good morning," along with the person's name if known. This teaches respect and acknowledgment.
Responding to Greetings: Children practice how to respond when greeted. They learn to reply with phrases like "Hello, nice to meet you" or "Good morning, Mrs. [Last Name]."
Initiating Greetings: As they become more comfortable, children are encouraged to initiate greetings without waiting for the other person to greet them first. This helps build confidence in social settings.
Complex Social Interactions: Older children practice more complex interactions, such as introducing a third person, managing group greetings, and using more nuanced conversational skills.
Cultural Variations in Greeting: Children might also learn about different cultural norms for greeting, such as bowing or cheek kissing, understanding that greetings vary around the world

This article explores how this activity plays a crucial role in Montessori education, emphasizing its importance and the effective ways it can be practiced at home to nurture respectful and polite behavior.

Content

Progressive Extensions

What is Greeting a Person in Montessori?

Benefits of Greeting a Person

Purpose of Greeting a Person

Direct Aim

Indirect Aim

Control of Error

Point of Interest

How to Present the Montessori "Greeting a Person" activity?

Materials
Presentation
Variations & Extentions
Recommendations

References

What is Greeting a Person in Montessori?

Greeting a Person is a Montessori activity that teaches children the polite way to greet others, whether it be saying hello, shaking hands, or making eye contact.These practices help children understand and participate in social exchanges, enhancing their communication skills and social awareness.

It's designed to make the child comfortable in social settings and to instill a sense of respect and acknowledgment for others.

Benefits of Greeting a Person

Teaching children how to greet others properly has numerous developmental benefits:

🤝 Enhances Social Skills: Children learn the etiquette of polite greetings, fostering positive social interactions.
👀 Boosts Confidence: Mastering the art of greeting helps children feel more confident in new or familiar social environments.
🌍 Cultural Awareness: Exposing children to different greeting customs broadens their understanding of cultural diversity.
🗣️ Improves Communication Skills: Regular practice of this activity enhances verbal and non-verbal communication abilities.
🫂 Encourages Empathy: Greeting someone respectfully teaches children to recognize and respond to social cues, nurturing empathy.

Purpose of Greeting a Person

The primary purpose of teaching children how to greet others is to develop their interpersonal skills and to prepare them for successful interactions in all walks of life.

Direct Aim

The direct aim of Greeting a Person is to teach children the proper ways to initiate interactions, fostering a respectful and polite demeanor.

Indirect Aim

Indirect benefits include the development of emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and a supportive community environment.

Control of Error

The natural social feedback received from peers and adults helps children refine their greeting skills, allowing for self-correction and adjustment in real-time.

Point of Interest

The personal connection made during a greeting and the positive reactions received from others keep the child engaged and eager to participate in social activities.

Video: Children learn to use polite verbal greetings like "Hello," "Good morning," or "Nice to meet you," which are fundamental for respectful communication.

How to Present the Montessori "Greeting a Person" activity?

Materials

A small area designated for the practice of greeting, ensuring a comfortable and respectful environment.
Props such as name tags or greeting cards to facilitate and simulate various greeting scenarios.
A mirror, allowing children to observe their body language and facial expressions during practice.
Role-play badges to designate different roles or personas for practice, enhancing the realism and engagement of the activity.

The following instructions are montessori presentation of Greeting a Person:

Presentation

Invite the Child: Begin by inviting a child to join you for a lesson on greeting someone properly.
Introduce the Concept: Explain to the child that greeting someone shows respect and kindness. Discuss the importance of looking into the person’s eyes, smiling, and using a clear voice.
Demonstrate: Stand up straight and show the child how to make eye contact. Smile and extend your hand for a handshake.
Guide the Child to Practice: Invite the child to practice the handshake with you. Encourage them to look into your eyes, smile, and shake hands firmly.
Introduce Verbal Greeting: Teach the child to say a greeting such as “Hello” or “Good morning” while shaking hands. Demonstrate how to say it clearly and politely.
Role-play Different Scenarios: Practice with different scenarios, such as greeting a friend, a teacher, or a visitor. Discuss the appropriateness of each type of greeting in different contexts.
Feedback: Offer gentle feedback on the child’s posture, eye contact, and handshake. Praise their efforts and provide encouragement to build confidence.
Practice Regularly: Encourage the child to practice greeting with other children and adults in the environment to reinforce the skill.
Reflect: After practicing, sit down with the child and discuss how it felt to greet someone properly. Ask them how they think the greeting made the other person feel.
Closure: Conclude the activity by thanking the child for their participation and effort in learning how to greet someone graciously.

Vocabulary

Greet - "Greet the person."
Hello / Hi - "Say 'Hello' or 'Hi.'"
Goodbye - "Say 'Goodbye' when leaving."
Please - "Use 'Please' when asking for something."
Thank you - "Say 'Thank you' when you receive something."
You're welcome - "Say 'You're welcome' in response to 'Thank you.'"
Excuse me - "Say 'Excuse me' to get attention politely."
Eye contact - "Make eye contact when greeting."
Shake hands - "Shake hands if appropriate."
Smile - "Smile when you greet."

Variations & Extentions

Variations

Introduce greetings in different languages to promote cultural awareness.
Practice greetings for different times of the day, such as "Good morning," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening."
Include different forms of greetings like bowing or placing a hand over the heart, which are common in various cultures.

Extension

Encourage the child to write a script or role-play a scenario where they meet someone new, integrating greetings and small talk.
Set up a greeting station where children can practice greeting each other as they enter the classroom.
Extend the activity to include introductions, teaching children how to introduce themselves and others.

Recommendations

Consistently model positive greetings with every interaction in the classroom to reinforce these behaviors.
Provide feedback and gentle corrections to help children refine their greeting skills over time.
Celebrate cultural diversity by exploring and practicing greetings from around the world during cultural studies.

References

Training Programmes - Association Mo ntessori Inte rnationale
Educators Blog - Rasmussen College
Lillard, A. S. (2013). Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three. New York: Schocken Books. pp. 70-85.
Montessori, M. (1973). The Formation of Man. Madras: Theosophical Publishing House. pp. 65-80.

Latest Articles Published

Hi! I'm Chris Palomino, a B.S. in Psychology, and a mother of a precious one-year-old girl. Over the past eight years, I've been guiding children, particularly those aged 3 to 6 facing developmental and learning challenges, with a special focus on autism and ADHD.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Go up

On this website, we use cookies to ensure the best user experience View More