How Parental Love & Affection Can Help In Child Development

Love is in the air. As Valentine's Day approaches, everyone is thinking of how they can surprise their loved ones with their utmost love and affection. Whether it is shown through hugs, kisses, cuddles, words, gifts, or other acts, everyone appreciates some kind of affection. Love and affection are two feelings that everyone likes to give and get in return, even kids. Kids have so much love to give, but it is also something they desire to receive too, especially from their parents.

According to research, studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between affection expressed by parents to their children and positive long-term developmental benefits. By having loving and affectionate parents, children can develop beneficial social and emotional skills, including being less anxious, being able to develop positive social relationships with others, an increase in self-esteem, among others. However, a child who grows up with receiving little to no affection from their parents will tend to show more aggression in their behaviour, have an increased level of anxiety, and be less social with others. This just goes to show that giving your child the love and affection they need while they are young, will help them in the future as they grow older.

Skin-to-skin contact for babies is also crucial to their development because it strengthens the bond between the mother and the baby, which can lead to an increase in calmness and brain development. Closeness between the mother and her baby will help to decrease the stress levels in the baby as skin-to-skin contact can help boost the amount of oxytocin produced and released in the baby's brain. Oxytocin is a chemical in the brain that is often known as the "cuddle hormone" or the "love hormone" because it is released when a close bond between people occur physically, socially, and/or emotionally. Research also suggests that bonds between parents and their children may positively impact the child's brain development and production of oxytocin, which can help improve their future mental health.

Showing affection to your kids is just one way you can show them how much you love them. Not only will it make your children feel good about themselves and their relationship with you, but it will also help them develop mentally, socially, and emotionally in the future. So, whether you take an extra minute to hug them every day before they leave for school or kiss them as they go to bed each night, it will not only make them feel loved in that very moment, but it will go a long way as they grow older.