5 Important Reasons To Cuddle Your Kids

By Rachel Norman

If you have been slacking in your cuddling duties, here are few reasons to motivate you to sit up.

1. IT MAKES THEM SMARTER

Research shows that children whose parents demonstrate love to them verses children whose parents don’t actually have bigger brains (source). Good to know that if you love your child it’ll make them smarter, eh? By providing your children with a loving and safe environment (ahem, this requires more than cuddling) you are directly affecting their development.

Hugging may not raise their IQ, but it’ll help them get the most out of it. And that will be good for them, their future family, and the spheres in which they will move as adults.

2. IT RELEASES GOOD CHEMICALS
Physical contact releases a certain chemical in the brain that promotes happiness and lower stress hormones (source). Cuddling and hugging can literally put you in a better mood. And pretty quick at that! If you’ve had a tough day, or if your kids are pushing the envelope and you to your limit, a good way to stop and reset the home atmosphere is to cuddle.

3. THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH PHYSICAL AFFECTION
Have you ever tried to hug someone who doesn’t like physical touch? Awkward. Physical touch doesn’t have to be your love language for you to appreciate the connection and thought it implies. If parents never touch their children they will be deprived affection. If your kids are deprived affection they will seek it elsewhere. Believe me, you will not like where else they seek it.

4. IT COMMUNICATES LOVE
While adults are able to determine how they feel best loved, young children are not. If you look them in the eye, give them attention, smile at them, and show them physical affection they feel good. When they see you like them and that makes them feel good, they feel loved. If kids are naughty and you still hug them, they feel secure with you. If they break something valuable and you hug them, they know their position in the house isn’t in jeopardy. If you get flip out in anger, ask for forgiveness, and seal it with a hug, they understand about conflict resolution. It is one way – out of many – that confirms your love for them.

5. IT ESTABLISHES A CONNECTION
When we’ve had a busy day, had lots of guests, or I’ve been preoccupied with work, cooking or life, a good way to reconnect with the kids is through a big hug. It says, “I’ll slow down and just be with you.” If you have company over and your kids feel slightly overwhelmed or shy, a cuddle says, “Even though I’m focusing on others right now, I haven’t forgotten about you.”

At the end of a long day, a good schnuggle (as my son calls it) before bedtime says, “After all is said and done, I am here for you.” And on the flip side, sometimes a hug is the only way little ones can express appreciation.

Source: amotherfarfromhome.com