No doubt almost every parent hugs their kids but what really matters is how many times? Yes, recently science has proved that you should hug your child for 15 seconds at a time. Neuroeconomist Paul Zak recommends at least eight hugs a day to be happier and enjoy better relationships.
Psychotherapist Virginia Satir said: “We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance and 12 hugs a day for growth.”
Apart from this, hugging also reduce stress levels. A 20-second hug, along with 10 minutes of hand-holding has capacity to lower down the harmful physical effects of stress, including its impact on your blood pressure and heart rate.
According to mail Online: “The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centers called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve winds its way through the body and is connected to a number of organs, including the heart.
Shekar Raman, MD told : “A hug, pat on the back, and even a friendly handshake are processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy… And it doesn’t matter if you’re the toucher or touchee. The more you connect with others — on even the smallest physical level — the happier you’ll be.”
Hugs help the body to release oxytocin which we get from the pituitary gland to help you handle stress.
So no matter what age your kid is, try to hug them for 15 seconds for at least 4 times every day and see the change.
