Some will say showing affection is healthy in front of your kids because it resembles a good relationship and models for kids to be free and able to show their feelings, emotions, belonging and love.
However, some might argue that Public Display of Affection (PDA) can be damaging in the way that kids will start mimicking it at an early age and possibly influence other kids who have parents that are against PDA and swear upon it.
“While kissing on the cheek is acceptable, anything more than that may be overstepping the boundary, as the child might try it out in school. This is when teaching the role of consent comes to play – who can be hugged or kissed,” says Kala on Deccan Herald.
According to smart parenting blog, although PDA is healthy common sense and shouldn’t be amiss, there is a difference between sexual ”gropping” display and affection.
Samuel Zilioli, who co-authored the study about Public display of affection said, “Parents should be aware that their children are not only emotional to the direct interactions they have with their parents, but also to interactions their parents have between each other. In turn, these children’s emotional responses can affect their health.”
How lack of parenting can affect your child
Most kids find it hard to connect with their parents emotionally and struggle to confide in them about what is happening in their lives due to not understanding how to express themselves because they don’t understand how to be affectionate.
Appropriate ways of showing affection in front of your kids are:
-Holding hands
-Hugging
-Complementing each other
-Communicating well
-Kissing
Also see: Dealing with parental burnout
