The Benefits Of Tickling In Children

They say that laughter is the best medicine. It is the greatest truth. When you laugh you feel good in the moment without needing anything else, the thoughts turn positive and it is certainly a most pleasant feeling. Tickling helps you feel this way, and kids love it (except if you tickle them too hard that they can even hurt or so hard that they wet their pants, then it’s not pleasant).

There are people who consider tickling to be a negative thing, but the reality is that it can be a very positive experience. Many parents tickle their newborn children to provoke sweet and pleasant laughs, or they are simply used to create a beautiful connection between parents and children. Tickles cause us laughter, nerves or pleasure … that is why children cannot be without tickling. Do you want to know some benefits that it will bring them?

Strengthen the bond between people

Tickling not only triggers laughter in children and adults, it also builds and strengthens relationships. In fact, evolution expert Charles Darwin observed in the late 1800s that tickling is a social bonding mechanism. For example, when a mother tickles her baby, the little one laughs and if the mother tickles even more, it serves as a form of communication between the child and the mother.

They help children to get to know their surroundings better

Tickling can also have an important developmental function that helps children better understand their environment. For example, a child may feel through tickling external stimuli such as that he has a fly or a spider on his arm and will help him to get rid of it. This type of tickling is called ‘knismesis’ and it rarely produces laughter since it is an evolutionary reaction, but necessary for all people and living beings (like a horse that wags its tail because it has a fly that is bothering it).

They are good for the health of the child

Tickling is beneficial in many aspects since in addition to helping the child have a pleasant time, you will be improving their health in many aspects. Tickling stimulates all of the child’s senses, helping him to be more alert to what is happening around him, also enhances good cognitive development to stimulate positive thinking, stimulates nerve endings and blood flow, also strengthens the immune system .

In addition, the laughter and the movement that accompany the tickling help to exercise the muscles of the whole body, improves the respiratory system when inhaling and exhaling the air with laughter and even strengthens the heart.

Helps them set limits

If children do not like tickling or are not comfortable, they will learn communication skills so that they can tell the other person to stop because they do not feel well or that they do not want to have more moments of that type. It will also be an opportunity to speak and express your feelings and emotions at a certain time.

Parents, if they see that their children are upset by being tickled, can talk about what they do not like or what has made them feel upset, so they can find solutions for the future such as softer tickling. It must be respected at all times if a child does not want more tickling.

Makes them feel happier

Thanks to the release of endorphins, children feel much better because endorphins are known as the hormones of happiness. It is a way for children to fully enjoy the game thanks to the positive stimulus that the brain receives. In addition, children are becoming aware of their body and respect for themselves and others.

Tickling according to age

Children usually like to be tickled but it will depend on their age if you can tickle them in one way or another to promote the emotional bond:

• Babies like gentle tickles on the cheeks, chin, by mouth, hands, or soles of the feet.
• From the age of two, the little ones love to be tickled on the back, stomach or extremities. As they grow, they will surely enjoy more energetic tickling games as well.