Did You Hug Your Kids Today?

The research is in, and hugs are good for a body. So if you didn’t already hug your kids today, here are ten good reasons to hug them now.

And even if you’ve already doled our a few hugs since daybreak, here’s a bunch of good excuses to hug your kids again — maybe two or twelve or twenty times — before the sun goes down.

10 Good Reasons to Hug Your Kids

1. Hugs are nice.

Hugs are a friendly way to say “hello,” “goodbye,” “good morning,” and “goodnight.” Hugs are warm and comfortable — especially when they come from the people closest to us.

2. Hugs give you a good feeling inside.

Hugs cause “feel good” hormones — dopamine and oxytocin — to be released in our brains which in turn leads to feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and bonding.

3. Kids need hugs to stay healthy.

For years I’ve heard that kids need a minimum of seven hugs a day for optimal health. But when I tried to source that statistic, I found numbers all over the map:

• 2-4 daily hugs for survival and basic well-being
• 8-12 daily hugs for maintenance and growth
• 20+ daily hugs for maximum health benefits

Bottom line: Don’t consider giving daily hugs a one-and-done proposition.

4. Parents need hugs too!

Hugs are a two-way street. The giver receives all those same lovely health benefits that are heaped upon the receiver.

5. Hugs say, “I love you.”

Hugs are a shorthand way of expressing tender loving care for others, which is a wonderful reason for parents to lavish hugs upon their children.

6. Hugs promote closeness.

Hugs get you close enough to actually whisper “I love you”  right in your child’s ear. And they contribute to a greater sense of connectedness and security.

7. Hugs offer encouragement.

Hugs also make it easier to pat your children on the back and tell them how proud you are of them. To let them know you notice and admire their effort. And that you are always in their corner, cheering them on.

8. Hugs can give comfort.

Hugs are a great way to express sympathy and compassion. Hugs can speak volumes, even when you don’t use any actual words at all.

9. Hugs are fun.

Hugs can sometimes lead to tickling, which leads to laughter, which is also good medicine.

10. Enjoy hugs while you can

Kids grow up fast. Once they leave home, you won’t be able to just hug them anytime you feel like it. So hug them now while you’ve got the chance. Including (maybe even especially) your teenaged and young adult children. A kid never grows too old to benefit from a parent’s warm and loving hug.

And while you are doling out hugs, be sure to give a few to your spouse, as well. You’ll want to be well-practiced for when your nest is empty. Otherwise, you may have a hard time keeping up with that 4/8/12/20-per-day quota.