Affection
Some kids don’t love to hug or give/get kisses. I think it is appropriate to respect their wishes and find other mutually agreeable ways to share love. My mom used to kiss her finger and then plant the finger on the boys’ heads to show affection without getting infected with any kiddie germs. It was more of a joke than a real concern because she would also give them giant hugs all the time!
Showing affection is an important life skill and it can be taught if your child is open to expressing love in a more typical way. Click the link below for some ideas on gauging where your child is and how to help move them in the right direction.
Mikey LOVES hugs and kisses, big squeezes, resting his forehead on ours and high fives. None of this changed during puberty when other kids might get less open and more standoff-ish about affection from mom or dad.
Our buddy still gets a million kisses a day. True and accurate. We count them. LOL
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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