To Hug or Not To Hug…. That is the Question!
Okay, so the purpose of this post is summed up in the title. While it might sound like a joke, in all seriousness, I open this up for a debate. Do you give hugs at school? If not, why not?
By nature, I am a hugger. I believe that hugging is so important for our little kiddo’s at school. I believe that you are never to old for a hug. I believe that by giving hugs you are giving the student a sense of security. A hug can help make a child feel safe at school.
The most important thing for me, as a teacher, is to make sure my students feel safe at school. I want them to want to come to school. I want my students to get the most out of their day, and with time, to become independent citizens. For my students, they range cognitively from 6 months to 8 years old. I don’t know about you, but most 6 month year olds I know sure do get a lot of hugs. I argue all the time with colleagues that just because my students are in 10 and 11 year old bodies does not mean that we can expect 10 and 11 year old behaviors from them. To some, hugging a 6th grade boy is inappropriate at school. I think that it depends on the child and the situation. If it makes them happy and feel safe, if it is going to help them regulate their behaviors, if it will help them better access the curriculum then by all means, I’m going to give my students a hug.
Do you hug at school? Is it allowed? Is it frowned upon?
