Hug, High Five, or Wave Goodbye?

To close the session, each child goes to say goodbye to several classmates and lets them choose: a hug, a high five, or a wave. It ends calmly, practices respecting how each person wants to be greeted, and reviews who they played with.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, the teacher shows three cards (hug, high five, wave) and practices with a child: “How should I say goodbye to you?” (1 min).
2. Each child gets up slowly and walks over to say goodbye to someone they played with today; they ask and give the chosen greeting (1 min).
3. Second goodbye to a different classmate, walking very slowly (1 min).
4. Third goodbye, now to someone they haven't played with yet (1 min).
5. Everyone returns to the circle, sits down, and the teacher says goodbye to the whole group with the greeting the group chooses (1 min).

Rules

• I ask, “How should I say goodbye to you?”
• My friend chooses and I respect it.
• I walk slowly and talk quietly.
• I say goodbye to different friends.

Variations

Adaptations

• Autism: the child can always choose the wave and keep their own card to show.
• Language difficulties: choose by pointing to the greeting card.
• Limited mobility: classmates come to the child's spot to say goodbye.

Learning goals

• Say goodbye calmly after the session.
• Respect the kind of contact each classmate chooses.
• Recognize the classmates they played with.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Greeting picture cards: 3

Teacher tip

Place large cards in the middle of the circle so kids can look at them when asking. If a child gets no goodbyes, go to them first and encourage others to follow.

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