On the one hand, in Australia they take very advanced measures such as allowing members of Parliament to breastfeed or bottle feed their babies inside the enclosure, but on the other, it seems to me that they take absurd measures. Or maybe I'm generalizing and it's just a punctual thing of a Geelong school, in the Australian state of Victoria, where children are forbidden to hug. To defend personal space, they say.
The decision has been made by the authorities of the center, because they consider that not all children feel comfortable being hugged. Wouldn't it be better to educate them in respect for each other, instead of forbidding hugs? A show of love that, by the way, is very common among young children.
To preserve the personal space of each child, in this school they want to replace the hugs with less intimate ways such as shaking hands, a knuckle clash or verbally flattering classmates.
Children are very affectionate, and also very spontaneous. They do not need reasons to distribute hugs and kisses to their friends if that is what they feel at that moment. It is not a behavior to repress, on the contrary. The hug is a sign of affection, and physical contact is essential in human relationships.
It is true that when they discover hugs, young children distribute hugs left and right, and it may also happen that not all of their classmates feel comfortable with the "hug" of the group. But it is a passing behavior, which is not harmful and can also be solved if a child feels uncomfortable with the exacerbated signs of affection of a partner.
Isn't it more logical to manage those specific cases in which a child may feel overwhelmed than prohibit all children from hugging each other? Isn't it more sensible to teach children to respect the personal space of others than to do it through prohibition?
The center's director, John Grant, says that "there are other ways of giving affection" and considers that "children must be taught to be cautious from an early age."
The parents did not like the idea at all, who also assure that they have not even been informed by the school of this new norm, but through their own children. In any case, the school has said that they will not sanction the children who embrace. Goodness!
Do we want cold, inexpressive and unloving children? Really, there are things with which I hallucinate more every day.
Via | The vanguard
In Babies and more | Five ways to generate positive emotions thanks to relaxation and physical contact
