Claims that forcing toddlers to kiss relatives may be risky

We kiss each other hello and we kiss each other goodnight - we all enjoy a few cuddles every now and again.

 

However, it has been claimed that forcing your little ones to give their relatives a peck on the cheek could have harmful effects on their future.

 

Co-ordinator of the Sex Education Forum, Lucy Emmerson, thinks that encouraging children to give kisses can give them a blurred vision about boundaries.

 

“Children need to learn from the start about the importance of consent and that ‘their bodies are their own”, she explained.

 

Her comment fuelled quite a debate among parents and teachers, with many saying there is no proof that affectionate habits means children have a higher chance of being sexually exploited.

 

Margaret Morrissey of family campaign group Parents Outloud thinks claims made by Lucy are ‘ridiculous,’ and that kissing relatives is a normal part of being in a loving family.

 

She said: “If a child isn’t taught through the family connection how to show appropriate affection, then they’re going to have a very difficult time when they become teenagers and adults.”

 

At the end of the day, parents will always know what’s appropriate for their child and what’s not, and let’s face it – there’s no medicine like a mother’s kiss.