Not Forcing Kids to Sit on Santa’s Lap Teaches Them Bodily Autonomy
Pressuring a child to show affection when they don’t want to can send the wrong message
My sister-in-law showed me some pictures of her grandchildren visiting Santa. The baby is chill but her almost 2-year-old granddaughter — a fiery little redhead — is balling her eyes out.
Seeing this forces me to reflect: why do we encourage or force our kids to sit on a stranger’s lap just because he’s wearing a Santa costume? This sparks a similar question I carry: why do we force children to hug or kiss adults they barely know and rarely see?
Give Uncle Jack a hug. Don’t be rude, give your aunty a kiss. She brought you that cute Teddy Bear.
There are several reasons why we should respect a child’s personal space and never force them to engage in physical contact that is not comfortable for them.
Teach your child, “You’re in charge of your body and who touches it.” That’s a message that’s important for kids to carry with them throughout their lives. — verywellfamily.com
Children have a heightened sense of who they can and can’t trust. Adults have been…
