You never forget the first time you hug your child. Holding them in your arms and feeling the warmth of their body is a wonderful experience. There’s nothing like it! But did you know there are scientific benefits besides feeling all warm and fuzzy? It’s true.
It turns out those warm and fuzzy feelings are connected to positive physical and mental changes in our bodies. It’s especially important for your child’s emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Let’s explore five scientific benefits of hugging your child.
1. Hugging Makes Kids Smarter
Children need a lot of sensory stimulation as their brains grow and develop. Studies looking at infants in orphanages where they were rarely held were found to have severe cognitive impairments. But when they were held for just 20 minutes per day for 10 weeks, they scored higher on brain development assessments.
Because newborns first learn to navigate the world through touch, physical contact such as a hug and skin-on-skin contact is crucial for development. Of our five senses, touch is the first to develop, so a nurturing touch provides the stimulation young brains need for normal growth and development.
As your baby grows, they will continue to benefit from receiving and giving physical affection. Research reveals that kids who get more hugs have more developed brains.
2. Hugging Keeps Kids Healthy
Children need more than adequate nutrients to thrive. When children are deprived of physical contact, their bodies will fail to meet expected growth milestones. This can contribute to a condition called failure-to-thrive. But when nurturing hugs are provided, kids can go from unhealthy to healthy very quickly.
The science: hugging triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with trust, safety, and love. When this hormone is released it also stimulates particular growth hormones in the body. While researchers continue studying oxytocin’s complicated effect on the body, it seems clear that the release of this hormone in our brains aids in physical development from a young age.
3. Hugging Can Stop Tantrums
Not only are hugs good for children’s brain development and physical growth, but they also support emotional development. Nothing soothes the cries of a child with a skinned knee more quickly than a warm hug from an adult who loves them.
In addition, hugs are the most effective way to end a temper tantrum. Many adults worry that hugging a child who is having a tantrum will reinforce bad behavior. But this is a myth. When a toddler has an emotional tantrum, they are releasing emotions in response to something in their environment. They are not being stubborn or trying to ruin everyone else’s day.
Children lose control of their emotions, just like adults do sometimes. The difference is that children haven’t learned how to regulate their emotions. This is an emotional developmental milestone and until your child reaches this stage in development, their emotions are like a runaway train.
Hugging your child in these moments of intense emotional outbursts will calm them down, teach them that you are there to support them during tough times, and help them avoid an emotional crash.
4. Hugging Makes Kids More Resilient
During moments of distress and stress, adrenaline and cortisol are released into the body and brain. Because children haven’t learned how to regulate their emotions, stress can linger in the bodies of kids reaching toxic levels. When this happens, these stress hormones can impact a child’s health both mentally and physically.
Studies show that exposure to high levels of stress hormones can lead to negative consequences in adulthood too such as an increase in risk for physical illness as well as depression and other adverse conditions.
Hugs trigger the release of oxytocin, lowering levels of stress hormones, buffering against these negative effects and helping children develop resilience.
5. Hugging Helps You Bond With Your Child
In addition to the scientific benefits for your child, hugging your child also creates a stronger bond with you. Hugs improve trust, reduce fear, and strengthen relationships. And these benefits are mutual. Giving and receiving physical affection is good for both you and your child.
From the first time you hold your child, you form a special bond and this initial bond needs to be nurtured throughout childhood. As your child grows, your bond will evolve, but the need for feeling your nurturing touch will never be eliminated.
One final note: It shouldn’t be necessary to say, but the above positive benefits all result from wanted hugs. We also, of course, want to emphasize the importance of bodily autonomy. Teaching children how to politely refuse hugs and deal with the potentially awkward fallout is another good lesson.
So the next time you hug your child, with their permission, remember you’re also doing great things for their physical and mental health.
Are you looking for additional parenting resources? Explore our list of resources and service offerings on the Exchange Family Center website. We’re here to support children, parents, and families throughout Durham and beyond.