Tickling is touching a sensitive body part to tickle it to cause laughter. The reaction of most people being tickled is to cower and laugh from tickling. Many adults tickle children’s armpits when playing with their children. This action seems harmless, making the children feel happy, but in fact, it is not. Because tickling can cause bad consequences for children, according to scientists. Every baby reacts differently to being tickled, but how can parents know what the limit is to not hurt them. Therefore, tickling for young children is not recommended at all. In particular, experts also alert absolutely not tickling children when they are sleepy or hungry. Instead of tickling children, parents think of other safe and intellectual games to lovingly connect with their children. Here’s we show reasons why parents shouldn’t tickle kids should know.
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Why parents shouldn’t tickle kids
Kids Laughing doesn’t mean they like tickling
A child laughs in response doesn’t mean that he or she is enjoying the tickling: Almost everyone will laugh when tickled. Children too, but the problem is they will still laugh even if they hate it. Especially hyperactive children, unable to stop laughing when tickled. This reflective laughter gives parents the illusion that the child is amused, when not really.
In a study done at the University of California in 2017, scientists found that tickling doesn’t produce the same feeling of happiness as when someone laughs at a funny joke. Tickling only creates an illusion to outsiders that they are smiling.
Children cannot tell their parents to stop
Why parents shouldn’t tickle kids- There is a complete difference between tickling and petting love and the act of holding a child, pushing them back, and tickling them to see them laugh. The child’s laughter at this time is completely uncontrolled and has no interest at all. In particular, adults should not cover the blanket and tickle because children can suffocate, have difficulty breathing, cry, and in many more dangerous cases. Laughing too much in anaerobic conditions can easily cause a child to choke or choke.
Especially for infants, there are many ways to increase the bond between mother and baby that is not tickling. You can have fun, cuddle, and pet, but don’t tickle with your fingers. This can be damaging to the baby, especially causing the child to scratch or fall on the bed causing injury.
Tickling used to torture people
Tickling has long been used as torture. During the Han Dynasty in China, tickling was torture of nobility because it left no trace and victims could recover relatively easily and quickly. It’s also very popular in Japan, where they even coined a special word for tickling torture kusuguri-zeme, meaning no mercy.
Vernon R. Wiehe from the University of Kentucky studied 150 adults who had been tickled many childhoods by their siblings. Most of the participants thought tickling was a kind of physical abuse. The research concludes that tickling can induce extreme physiological reactions in the victim such as vomiting and loss of consciousness due to the inability to breathe.
Tickling can cause psychological trauma and life-long consequences
According to Dr. Alexander answered the NY Times, tickling when the opponent does not want can cause “extremely great psychological pain”. Sometimes injuries can last a lifetime.
Patty Wipfler, a parenting expert, founder of a family organization called Hand in Hand, said: “Years of listening to people talk about the psychological problems caused from childhood, I can conclude argues that tickling can induce painful experiences. ”
The child will develop an unpleasant, tense reflex when the tickle appears. So experts advise that we should never play with children in the form of tickling. Find more fun ways to play with your kids.
Other Means to Physically Connect besides tickling
The physical connection, as in actual touching, between a parent and a child, is very important. Humans need physical touch to survive and thrive, but there are other ways to encourage the physical bond between a parent and child, besides tickling:
Reading together. Ask your child if he/she would like to sit on your lap to read a story, or have your child read you a story.
Massage. Some children may benefit from the connection of a massage. Massage in babies has been linked to calming infants, increasing weight gain, and regulating their temperature.5 You can follow the same techniques for a toddler massage, using a simple lotion or oil with one drop of your favorite essential oil. Just be sure to check with your pediatrician before you use an essential oil on your toddler’s skin, as some children may be more sensitive than others or have a medical condition that could make certain essential oils dangerous.
Body-based play. If your goal is to have some fun through movement, try other body-based play techniques, such as playing “horsey,” ring-around-the-rosy, or having a hugging contest. The key is to ensure that your toddler is the one in control of the game and how his or her body is being touched.