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Read Full Story: Reminder: Your Daughter Doesn’t Owe Anyone a Hug. Not Even at The Holidays.
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Hugging is socially acceptable in the right setting and family is certainly one of those settings. Kids should not be subjected to the creepy uncle but if the family tradition is a hug, then kids should learn to go with the flow. It is no different than a handshake. Will that be optional next? Hugs take just a second. Teaching kids that they don’t have to do something because of their ‘feelings’ is just another way to make kids overly sensitive to non issues. They need to learn to do things that they sometimes don’t want to do.They need to learn is that not everything is about them. Learning to socialize is a critical skill for transitioning into adulthood.If the kids learn that hugging is acceptable, they won’t be weirded out later when their friends offer a hug as a gesture of sympathy or gratitude.
When did the Girl Scouts become an authority on hugging or child rearing?
Sybil,
No argument, family traditions are important – especially during the holidays.
At the same time, it was Quincy Quarry’s read that the Girl Scouts were not promoting no hugging; rather, the suggestion was to not force it upon a reluctant child.
After all, some children are timid as well as that social skills – as do all skills – tend to develop at varying ages among children.
And as for a personal and somewhat comparable experience, to this day many decades later I still refuse to eat Brussels sprouts after having woefully overcooked ones forced upon me as a child. Further, it was only after considerable personal work that I was eventually able to both eat as well as actually enjoy eating tastefully prepared asparagus.
Finally, as for the Girl Scouts’ experience with female children and their development, one can only assume that after 115 of existence that this exemplary organization has accumulated considerable understanding.