Forcing a child to kiss or hug an adult is wrong (even if it’s a relative)

According to a survey conducted in Canada, only one in 3 people fully understand the meaning of the term “consent”. Therefore, the sooner parents start instilling in their children the importance of such a concept, the better. The fact is that many adults are in the habit of forcing children to hug and kiss relatives. And while the gesture may seem harmless, the reality is quite different. This is an attitude that can result in unwanted psychological effects in children.

we, from awesome.clubwe list some topics to show the reasons why forcing a child to show affection is a bad idea.

Children not only learn from their parents, but also from others around them. When you allow your child to be hugged or get kisses on the cheek whenever they meet family members they barely know, it can end up making the little one start to consider this type of attitude normal. Therefore, it is essential to teach from an early age the difference between good and bad physical interactions.

Showing affection towards distant relatives during meetings or special occasions is very common, but keep in mind that your child may not be used to it. In addition, when the child refuses to hug that uncle or aunt that he rarely meets and is forced to, he will certainly begin to think that the parents themselves prioritize the relationship with “strangers” over their well-being.

According to one study, in almost 70% of cases, children who are abused are victims of members of their own family. Forcing your child to give or accept kisses and hugs from people he hardly knows can lead the little one to believe that there is nothing wrong with imposing displays of affection, and that relatives are never abusive.

At one point, you tell your child to avoid talking to or accepting offers from strangers. In another, it requires the child to kiss a person he doesn’t know. It is obvious that relatives are part of the family and are not strangers, but little ones see it differently. Attitudes like this confuse the child and make them feel insecure when it comes to trusting someone or not.

There are those who say that children are able to distinguish the good from the bad. If your child clearly doesn’t like the idea of ​​being held by a certain person and always cries when being touched by that individual, there is certainly a reason for such behavior. In the case of children who are just starting to walk or are a little older, the reason may be something the family member did or said. Instead of pushing your child, wait for all the visitors to leave and calmly ask the little one why he refused to hug that relative.

Do you agree that displays of affection cannot be forced on children? When you were little, were you forced by your parents to kiss or hug your relatives? How did you feel? Comment!