Italian people often shake hands and kiss each other when meeting someone whom they already know. If two women meet, or a man and a woman, they kiss each other once or twice on the cheeks. Both adults and children will kiss or shake hands when they haven't seen each other for a long time, and also to wish someone happy birthday or offer congratulations on the occasion of a birth, marriage or graduation. They will greet in the same way when wishing another a happy holiday. Girls might kiss their best friends every time they meet and boys often shake hands or simply put a hand on a shoulder. There are no strict rules or customs about this-the main thing is that these are all gestures meant to express friendship.

Italian boys and girls usually go out in groups together. Most families have about two kids, and they may socialize in the same group. If they are very young they will usually play at the homes of friends who live in the neighborhood, while older kids go for walks with their friends in their town or city.

Socializing with friends is definitely the best part of the day but there is limited time for this. During the school day kids may have a chance to talk during the recreation period, but that lasts only fifteen minutes. The best time to spend time together is in the afternoon, but that is the time to do homework so kids may invite a friend to come to their house and do their homework together. In this way they may chat, catch up with news and make plans for the evening. They might play videogames, watch TV or go for a walk. If they go outside, however, they need to have a parent's permission. If friends go for a walk, they will meet other friends and hang around together at a park, a square or a café. Every group of kids knows the place where they will find each other. For most kids, there are two afternoons a week when they have school hours for a special study of their choice. This could be a musical instrument, dance, singing, gymnastics, sports or a second or third language. These hours are another opportunity for friends with the same interests to meet each other.