Don’t Force Your Kids To Hug Relatives

As the holidays roll around it’s important to talk to your family about how to interact physically with relatives.

Consent is a fundamental part of a healthy relationship and teenagers and children need to know what it means when it comes to romance and sex and for the latter, bodily anatomy.

Remind your kids that no one is allowed to touch them without asking. Parenting expert, Dr. Deborah Gilboa says “It is super confusing to send kids the mixed messages of body privacy and body safety and then force them to do something intimate with their bodies.”

Somethings you may tell your kids like, “Do it because she loves you,” or “He’s come all this way to see you.” may be the same statements used by an abuser. And for older relatives, it’s important to share these rules with them as they may get offended by a child that says ‘no.’

Finding a greeting that you’re children are comfortable with is important, instead of a hug or kiss they may be more comfortable with a high-five, a fist bump or showing grandma and grandpa their latest social media video. The key is to build healthy, happy relationships.