Do you guys " force" your toddler to greet strangers?

I always prompt my children to respond to polite hellos from strangers and family. It's called manners and from what I can tell most children their age don't have them.

I ask if she wants to say hi and if she says no I don't make her.

It's up to her who she interacts with, same as it's her choice if she gives cuddles etc (she's almost 3)

Saying hello to someone is not manners or respect, especially when forced.

I think it kinda depends on the age. For example my boy is 14months and not really verbal yet. So I say hi back and wave. Showing him the appropriate response through my behavior. Now if he doesn’t follow suit than it’s fine. Can’t speak on an older child because I’m not there yet.

My children will say hi/hello & be respectful! You may even get a fist bump from my now 10 year old. My children are not & will NEVER be forced to shake hands, hug or kiss ANYONE.
My 2 year old & I are always saying hi, hello, good morning, have a good day, etc while out for walks.

AND it’s weird sometimes cause we’re teaching our children about STRANGERS but then also encouraging them to say hi, interact, etc with STRANGERS on a regular basis so I’m sure it’s sometimes confusing for them.

I generally teach them to do the basics and say hi but to have to hold a conversation, hug, over interact, or
Etc. than no.

For example I think it’s rude when a person walks into a home and doesn’t speak to everybody or when you bring your kid to my house and I say hello and they just look or ignore me.

I get public places might get a pass but I think that when we don’t teach our kids to speak even if it’s simple hi we teach them a form of poor socialization skills.

This is all just my opinion, no judgement 🥰

I believe that learning to cope with uncomfortable situations is a part of life, and in order to function as an adult it is a skill you will have to learn, I wouldn’t put too much thought into it at such a young age, but it’s definitely something you want to make sure your kid can do… with that being said… I feel anything beyond a polite hello (smile, wave or handshake) is too much for me. I never forced my daughter to hug or greet strangers or family in an over the top way way because then you are promoting people pleasing behavior….. I know.. it’s a thin line 😩..but at the very least a cordial hello is respectful and doable! Hope this helps ❤️

I encourage them to try and respond although my daughter was preverbal until the age of 5. I think it’s important for them to know that not every stranger is “bad” but at the same time don’t take sweets or go off with people you don’t know.

my son is 4 months, so won’t be going through this for a while. But, I plan to go about it this way. My in-laws are Hispanic & I see how they make my husband’s little cousins feel obligated to say hi & give hugs. I see how shy & uncomfortable they are. So I always ask them if they want a hug.

Lovingly model and instruct your child in what you would like to see them do. If you personally are fine with snubbing a friendly stranger that says hello, feel free to teach that. If you'd like your kid to politely engage and say a few words, you need to show them with your own actions and if they aren't forthcoming with their own provide them with prompting ("give them a wave") and phrases they can repeat ("say 'have a nice day'). The best instruction will be your own example, though. Kids can hear what we say but they learn from what we do.

Encourage them, yes, force, no.

I think it's too much pressure until they are older and understand better... but that's just me. At toddler ages I'd just say hi for them unless they are outgoing or something in genrral, and move along. If it's family pretty much the same thing.
If someone acts weird about my little one not saying hi I just say it's okay if he doesn't wanna talk sometimes people don't feel like saying much and that's okay. Then just flip to asking the person about themselves so they don't dwell on it and shame my kid for it.

My grandmother was pushy and shameful not even meaning to be, about things like this. My daughter didn't want to give hugs because she didn't see her in a while and sometimes she didn't even want to say hi. When she got a little older I explained to her why it's just polite to say hi and you don't have to say much more just excuse yourself politely. But when it comes to hugs I stick up for her since she's shy and tell people hey its not a hug day and that's okay, I'll hug you! Lol

So I'm more in the boat of demonstration but not forcing. They need to be able to have thier own healthy boundaries and we can teach them that during these times as well. Just my thoughts on it

We encourage but don't force

I prompt my son but I don’t make him if he doesn’t want to

I actually had this saved for future reference. I like this pediatrician so much.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDpQqVTRtQG/?igsh=MWd0czRoY29lMTE2eQ==

I definitely tell mine to greet people, it's rude to go to somebody's house and not say hello. But I also want her to know that she is in charge of her body, so she doesn't have to hug or kiss, or let people pick her up. But she needs to acknowledge them in some way, even if it's just a wave or "hi"

I ask if she wants to say hello and she sometimes does. I don't force. My belief is she is more likely to pick up on good manners if I model greeting strangers at the cafe, for example, rather than telling her what to do.

She is shy and scared of some people more than others. I don't really think it's a bad thing to let her follow her intuition and not interact with someone she is not comfortable with, just because someone (whose opinion on the grand scheme of things I don't care about) may get offended by a toddler hiding behind their mother's legs. Following your gut feeling is an important skill I want her to believe in, even if that means the woman at the cashpoint only gets a smile from me and not my 3 years old.

I never force kisses or hugs either, even to myself, grandparents, you name it. She doesn't want to hug right now, end of story.

I believe in modeling behaviors for my child and allowing my child to find their own way to introduce themselves. It can be as unique as the individual, but polite in acknowledging the presence of someone who is interested in meeting the child (family, friend).

Nope! Never. I’ll always say “do you want to say hello?” As she’s mega shy with new people.

She will usually shake her head and I’ll just smile at the person and move on. If they say anything about her being shy or continue to try get her to speak I just say “she isn’t shy, she just doesn’t know you” or “she’s said she doesn’t feel like speaking to you” and try to end the interaction 😂

There isn’t any family she doesn’t speak too but if there ever was I would do the same thing

I don't make my kids greet or touch anyone. It backfires sometimes when I tell my kids they have to get out of the bath or I have to put clothes on them and they say "my body my choice." 🤣

I don’t force my child to do anything like this. But we do practise roll play (he is 3.5) in greeting strangers and making new friends / how to introduce himself and ask other children to play. Just to give him confidence should he want to chat to new children etc.

I encourage my son to say hi, but don't force it. Same with family.