The significance of hugging your child cannot be overstated. Hugging has many benefits for people, but it is especially important in child development. Let’s look into the Importance Of Hugging Your Child – 5 Amazing Benefits
Without a doubt, hugging makes us feel good. My child is constantly requesting hugs.
When we are sad or disappointed, a big warm cuddle can help us feel better. When we are happy, we want to share our happiness with others by giving them a bear hug. As a result, we intuitively understand that hugs and kisses are beneficial.
Importance Of Hugging Your Child – 5 Amazing Benefits
1. HUGGING MAKES KIDS SMARTER
Children’s brains require a lot of sensory stimulation as they grow and develop. Infants in orphanages, where they were rarely held, were found to have severe cognitive impairments in studies. However, when they were held for only 20 minutes per day for 10 weeks, they performed better on brain development tests.
Because newborns learn to navigate the world through touch, physical contact, such as a hug or skin-to-skin contact, is essential for development. Because touch is the first of our five senses to develop, a nurturing touch provides the stimulation young brains require for normal growth and development.
Receiving and giving physical affection will continue to benefit your baby as they grow. According to studies, children who receive more hugs have more developed brains.
HUGGING KEEP CHILDREN HEALTHY
To thrive, children require more than adequate nutrition. Children’s bodies fail to meet expected growth milestones when they are denied physical contact. This can lead to a condition known as failure-to-thrive. However, when nurturing hugs are provided, children can quickly transition from unhealthy to healthy.
Hugging causes the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with trust, safety, and love, according to research. When this hormone is released, it stimulates the production of specific growth hormones in the body. While researchers continue to investigate the complicated effects of oxytocin on the body, it appears clear that the release of this hormone in our brains aids in physical development from an early age.
TANTRUMS CAN BE STOPPED BY HUGGING
Hugs are beneficial not only to children’s brain development and physical growth, but also to their emotional development. Nothing calms the cries of a child with a skinned knee faster than a warm hug from an adult who cares.
Hugs are also the most effective way to end a temper tantrum. Many adults are concerned that hugging a tantruming child will reinforce bad behaviour. However, this is a myth. When a toddler throws an emotional tantrum, they are expressing their feelings in response to something in their environment. They aren’t being obstinate or attempting to ruin everyone else’s day.
Children, like adults, occasionally lose control of their emotions. The difference is that children have not learned to control their emotions. This is an emotional developmental milestone, and your child’s emotions are like a runaway train until they reach this point.
Hugging your child during these intense emotional outbursts will calm them down, teach them that you are there for them during difficult times, and help them avoid an emotional crash.
HUGGING MAKES KIDS STRONGER
Adrenaline and cortisol are released into the body and brain during times of distress and stress. Stress can linger in children’s bodies, reaching toxic levels, because they haven’t learned how to regulate their emotions. When this happens, the stress hormones can have an effect on a child’s mental and physical health.
According to studies, high levels of stress hormones can also have negative consequences in adulthood, such as an increased risk of physical illness, depression, and other negative conditions.
Hugs cause the release of oxytocin, which lowers stress hormone levels, buffering against these negative effects and assisting children in developing resilience.
HUGGING AIDS IN BONDING WITH YOUR CHILD
Hugging your child strengthens their bond with you in addition to the scientific benefits. Hugs increase trust, reduce fear, and strengthen bonds. And the advantages are mutual. It is beneficial for both you and your child to give and receive physical affection.
You form a special bond with your child the first time you hold them, and this bond must be nurtured throughout childhood. Your bond will evolve as your child grows, but the need to feel your nurturing touch will never go away.
Finally, it should go without saying that the aforementioned positive effects are all the result of desired hugs. We also want to emphasise the significance of bodily autonomy. Another important lesson is to teach children how to politely refuse hugs and deal with the potentially awkward fallout.
So, the next time you hug your child, remember that you’re also doing great things for their physical and mental health.
