Greeting people is an important skill for children to learn. As one of the basic functions of communication, a greeting triggers positive conversations and helps us connect to people on a more personal level. A simple hello can make friends of strangers, bring a smile to someone who is feeling lonely and can brighten someone's day. With animal tracks and many opposites to discover, saying hello to animals is so much fun!

Teaching your child to look into the eyes of another person and greet them with a friendly greeting not only builds their confidence, but it strengthens two skills that are core competencies for Social Emotional Learning: Social Awareness & Relationship Building.

• SEL core competencies:
• Self Awareness
• Self Management
• Responsible Decision Making
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Building

It's completely normal for children to be shy around strangers at first, but it doesn't necessarily mean that shyness is going to be part of their personality forever. Learning to greet people confidently is a skill that, when practiced, leads to a more self-confident child who enjoys engaging with others. Practicing with strangers can seem scary for some children, which is why reading a book like this one makes saying hello a fun interactive game as they can greet friendly animals and compare handprints with the animal tracks.