3 Date Ideas For Those Who Love Physical Touch
Tips on making the most of your relationships when your or your partner’s love language is physical touch.
As a love language, physical touch treasures skin-to-skin contact. This includes cuddling, kissing, sex, handholding, biting, and more. Understanding this love language means centering trust, affection, and verbal consent before physically engaging. These principles are the foundation for any relationship, though it manifests differently for those who prize touch.
If you’re not sure what your love language is, visit my article entitled, “How to Recognize Your Love Language.” It discusses signs that point to a particular love language. If your or your partner’s love language is physical touch, here’s some ideas to keep in mind when dating. I’ll also give easy, budget-friendly date ideas for those who aren’t great at communicating their needs.
Know which touches are okay
Adoring physical touch doesn’t mean you or your partner have to be available 24/7. If your partner doesn’t enjoy physical touch, don’t require them to stroke you all the time. Likewise, if you’re the touch-lover, you’re encouraged to say no when you’re uncomfortable. Verbally establish which touches you each enjoy and be open to those preferences evolving.
Your likes are allowed to change regularly. For example, my tastes fluctuate depending on the person. For example, I didn’t mind when specific former partners caressed me or grabbed my hips regularly. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there were a few budding interactions where I didn’t even want the person to hold my hand. Just because I enjoy embraces doesn’t mean I want everyone to touch me the same way. You should get to know your likes and convey them with your partner.
Date Idea: Twister
Verbally mentioning your likes is hard if you don’t know which touches you enjoy and which you hate. An effortless way to figure this out is by playing twister. Yes, I mean the box game. It’s a private, quick time-filler that lets you get active with your partner. As you adjust positions, you’re bound to graze each other’s bodies at various angles. By the end of the game, you may be able to discern some erogenous parts of your body and other areas you never want approached again.
Don’t Be Gross
This one is for my germaphobe touch-lovers. Embracing a physical relationship is all fun and games until someone’s hygiene leads to a never-ending ick. Some physical touchers don’t mind getting a bit dirty during sex or other interactions. Others (including me) would rather we maintain some level of cleanliness.
My personal experience? Please don’t try to hold my hand when you know yours are sticky. I don’t want to know why they’re sticky or how it’s not a “big deal.” Just don’t try it, all right?
Date Idea: Art class
Suggest an art class, whether it’s a paint-and-sip or a pottery class. If your partner automatically rejects the messiness, keep that in mind. During the class, if your partner avoids your hands, recognize their displeasure. They may enjoy certain levels of mess, but not on them.
Learn Our Body
Similarly to the first point, some touches are great, and others are dreadful. In an ideal physical relationship, you learn each other’s bodies and find all the right buttons to push. Maybe your partner likes when you stroke their thumb a certain way. Maybe having your neck grabbed sends delicious tingles down your spine. Remembering pleasurable exchanges that can occur in or out of bed is a fantastic way to a physical lover’s heart.
Part of this can happen through sex. A more basic option is just to study your partner’s reactions. Body language — like winces, freezing, smiling, leaning into you, leaning away from you — are great indicators.
It’s also important for the touch-lover to know themselves. If you don’t even know which touches make you happy, how can you expect your partner to automatically know?
Date Idea:
Ever learn bachata? Dance classes are great for getting close to the person you’re attracted to. You can explore each other’s bodies and boundaries while getting into a song. At the end of the night, you’ll have a better idea of your hot spots and some great laughs (especially if you’re an awkward dancer). This isn’t an excuse to paw at your partner though. Simply enjoy the music, follow the instructor, and react to each other’s closeness.
Love Your Body
At the end of the day, most people enjoy some form of physical touch. Whether you’re deeply sensual or are satisfied with a little handholding, recognize the power and beauty of your bodies. It’s also important to love yourself and your body. No one can love you like you can. (Whether you take that literally — i.e., a vibrator — or figuratively, that’s up to you!)
Thanks so much for reading. I’ll be going through the other love languages, so stay tuned. Let me know any other relationship topics you’re interested in by posting a comment. If you really enjoyed the article, feel free to leave a friendly tip and follow my profile for more.
