[xorxarle]

This article doesn't address the forcing of children to hug. I think that children should have autonomy over their own bodies, as a preamble to intimate encounters later on in life. I would speculate that reverting back to traditional expectations around bodily contact with family/otherwise for children could just further exascerbate the problem. I think instead we need more demonstration of appropriate touching and demystifying what I see to be necessary caution about the innappropriate, unwanted or otherwise abusive kind of touching. Plus if touching is good for health and wellbeing this should be taught. I can think of other reasons why bodily contact is on the decline, such as the increased accessibility of other people without having to be in their presence. Media spin possibly has us frightened, where we now obstain from a gentle arm tap for emphasis, or shying away from offering a hug to someone in distress. Perhaps having a hug offering rejected is too much for people when they could just open messenger and send an emoji instead?