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Who knew tickling a child could harm them for real. While many of us would be offended by such a suggestion, a survey found that 32% of people loved being tickled, 32% were ambivalent, and 36% strongly disapproved (1). As adults, we tend to view tickling as harmless because we were all tickled at times as kids. However, you should remember that just because something was considered the order of the day in the past does not mean it is good for you or your child. Here are some reasons you must refrain from tickling your kids once and for all. Read on!
1. Giggles Are Not Necessarily An Indication That Kids Love Being Tickled
If you tickle a child, even if they detest it, they will inevitably giggle. Their parents may mistakenly believe their kid is enjoying themselves, but they are just laughing out of habit. University of California researchers observed in 1997 that tickling doesn’t provide the same positive emotions as laughing at a joke (2). Instead, tickling just makes it appear as though someone is laughing on the outside.
2. Tickling Asserts Superiority
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When tickled, a person loses control. For a kid, the effort to assert dominance can be an embarrassment that sticks with them forever. Most people who tickle children do it in jest, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do harm. Laughing in response to being tickled is an evolutionary adaptation that signals submission. Many forms of torture, including tickling, date back centuries.
3. Torture By Tickling Has A Long History
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Tickling was used as a form of torture on Chinese aristocracy during Han Dynasty since it caused minor visible injuries, and the sufferer could soon recover. Indeed, the Japanese even came up with their own phrase for it—”merciless tickling” or “kusuguri-zeme”—to describe the phenomenon (3). At the University of Kentucky, researcher Vernon R. Wiehe looked at the effects of sibling abuse on those who survived it. According to the study’s participants, tickling was frequently used as a form of physical abuse (4). Moreover, the study showed that tickling can cause severe physical effects on the victim, including nausea, vomiting, and even loss of consciousness from respiratory failure.
4. There’s A Chance The Kid Can’t Tell Them To Stop
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The laughter that ensues from tickling might be challenging to stop. If you keep tickling someone, eventually, they won’t be able to catch their breath or complain about how bad things are getting for them. In the end, something that seemed harmless at first might be hazardous to your health. So what’s the point of tickling when there are many other ways to have fun with others?
5. Tickling Might Create Personality Concerns In The Long Run
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A child can experience severe mental discomfort if they are tickled against their will. Such suffering might occasionally follow the kid throughout their life. Tickling in children is a source of emotional abuse, even in adulthood. Many psychologists have said that people who come for counseling often mention tickling as a trigger to their emotional discomfort. The trauma may make a person feel unsafe even when sleeping next to a committed partner and cause them to be on edge if there is more than occasional touching between themselves and someone they care about.
6. There Are Better Ways To Express Your Affection For Your Infant
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Most parents believe that tickling is excellent and beneficial for their children. Although there are other and more effective techniques to bond with kids, they still continue to burst tickles as a way to keep kids charged. However, there are different cute and fun ways to let them know you love them, like hugs and cuddles.
7. If You Really Want To Tickle, It’s Best To Get The Kid’s Approval Beforehand
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We understand how irresistible it is to not tickle the tiny toes or the cute little baby belly when you see it, but like other things, you need to ask your child first how they feel about it. Ask them if they are in the mood to get tickled, and even have a code word that will make you stop at all costs. This way, you will know if your child enjoys it or if you should leave out the practice of tickling for good.
As a modern parent, you need to weigh out old practices and see for yourself if what was considered normal is ideal to be repeated and taken forward in future generations or not. With this article, you must have realized how harmful tickling without consent is for your kids and why you need to stop ambushing your kids into tickle fights once and for all. So, what would be the best alternative to having a good time with kids without tickling them? Let us know in the comments section. Happy parenting!
