When was the last time you gave your child a big bear hug? Hugging is more than just a feel-good moment. It is a perfect reminder to take an extra moment to show kids how much they are loved. It is also a sign of affection and a way to share a bond with kids.
Every July 17th is a celebration of “Global Hug Your Kids Day”! It was founded by Michelle Nichols in 2008, ten years after her son Mark died from cancer. He was only eight years old then. Michell wanted to remind parents that childhood is fleeting, and as parents, they should make an extra effort to hug their kids.
Nevertheless, it’s another global celebration like any other special day to celebrate. The real deal here is to NOT just stop with a one-day kinda thing but to continue this habit of hugging because there are many good benefits in this simple gesture. Here are some of the reasons for you to cuddle your child frequently.
1. Helps You Bond
The first moment you hold your newborn child, you are already forming a special bond as a mum or dad. As they grow, this bond needs to be nurtured through hugging because it helps them to feel the connection of their parents’ warm touch and love. Whenever they feel upset or emotionally down, your touch of loving hugs will calm them and assure them that they are safe, loved, and protected.
2. Make Kids Smarter
You may be wondering if hugging really will make kids smarter. Well, there is this study of children in Romanian orphanages that showed that the children did not receive any hugs at all during their early growing years. As they grew older, these children displayed significant developmental delays. And not only that, these children did not appear to make cognitive gains when they were placed with adoptive parents1. It’s too late to reverse the developmental delays at a later stage for those kids who were not hugged in their early years. So, start hugging your child now!
3. Keep Kids Healthy
Did you know that the more kids are being hugged, the more it may contribute to better long-term heart health? Yes, one study showed steadier and calmer heart rates in infants over four months old when they received hugs from parents2. Isn’t it amazing? A happy child will eat well, play right and stay healthy.
4. Can Stop Tantrums
When your kids show tantrums, simply hug them because your hugs can help bring a quicker end to a temper tantrum. The trick is that you have to time it right. Don’t wait too long, you’ll likely feel too frustrated to want to physically connect, so rush to your child with a hug. The only thing you need to focus on is connecting via hug and talking to them. All will come to an end.
5. Can Boost the Immune System
Can hugs boost the immune system? Well, scientists took a group of volunteers and called them every day for two weeks. They were asked about their social relationships, in general, and whether they had been hugged that day.
Next, the volunteers were taken to a hotel and placed in quarantine. Each one was given nasal drops containing a common cold virus and then monitored for illness. The results? Those who received the most hugs were the least likely to get sick. Those huggers who did get sick had fewer symptoms and were sick for a shorter duration than those who had received fewer hugs3. Simply superb results!
So the next time you hug your child, remember you’re doing great things for their physical and mental health. Let’s make hugging a common practice in the family!
Ref:
1. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2020/01/20/how-a-hug-can-help-your-child/
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200407215658.htm
3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/201812/3-surprising-ways-hugging-benefits-your-well-being
Rosalind
A full-time MUM turned writer, Rosalind found her passion for writing only after becoming a mother herself. As a mother of two school-going children, she writes about real-life experiences, spending quality time with family and among others - parenting skills that need to be explored!