For generations, parents have tickled their children. You may think that tickling kids is one of the quickest ways to improve their moods and bond through physical touch. But have you ever considered that your child may not be having as much fun as you believe? Even if your intentions are genuine, tickling them could be harmful. Tickling may elicit chuckles more quickly than any other game, but that does not guarantee your child is having fun. They may laugh because they can’t help themselves and have no way of telling you to stop. It can have a lasting impact on children, and many may not equate tickling with a happy experience. Read this post to learn about the types of tickling and how tickling can be harmful to children.
Types Of Tickling
Our skin has different sensory receptors (cells and nerves) that help us feel different kinds of sensations. Tickling generally refers to two types of sensations, namely (1) (2)
1. Knismesis
This refers to the ticklish or itchy sensation you get due to a light touch in any part of the body. Many animals, including cats and dogs, have this reflex. The best example of this sensation is the feeling you get when a feather trails along your skin.
2. Gargalesis
This happens due to a heavier touch to ticklish parts of the body — the soles of the feet, underarms, the neck, the ribs, and the tummy are some of these spots. Touching these parts of the body induces involuntary laughter.
Is Tickling A Child Harmful?
In the 19th century, theorists, such as Charles Darwin, had suggested that tickling was connected with humor. However, scientists have debunked this theory and are of the view that tickling is more of a reflex (2). Tickling is a game we usually play with children. However, children often feel helpless and out of control while being tickled. They cannot tell you to stop because they cannot draw breath, and you are likely to mistake their laughing for encouragement. Many children feel paralyzed due to tickling and go to any lengths to protect themselves from being tickled. In fact, many adults state that they have felt very uncomfortable while being tickled as children (3). While we, adults, might consider tickling as enjoyable for children, and while our intentions might be good, tickling can be downright uncomfortable for your child.
Why You Shouldn’t Assume Every Kid Loves Being Tickled
Like every other physical activity that requires contact with another human, tickling should also require consent. However, as tickling is often seen as a form of play, many people do not think it necessary to ask for a child’s permission before touching them. The following are a few reasons why you shouldn’t assume your child likes being tickled.
1. They cannot stop giggling because they cannot help it
Even if they hate it, your children will be giggling helplessly and would not be able to tell you that they are not enjoying it. The laughter that occurs with tickling is reflexive and is not the same as what happens after listening to a good joke (4).
2. It violates their right to bodily autonomy
We have heard a lot about consent and how touching someone without their consent is a violation of their bodily integrity. It is necessary to ask whether your child is okay with being tickled.
3. It can be humiliating
Any person who is being tickled loses self-control. They are unable to state what they want, and they struggle to regain control. This can be humiliating for a child. Even if your intentions are good, the result may be hurtful to the child.
4. Tickling can cause medical complications
When a child is tickled continuously, they start laughing uncontrollably and are unable to talk or breathe. In some cases, they might even lose consciousness. As they cannot tell you to stop, you might not realize that they are in trouble.
5. Tickling creates trust issues
If your child does not like to be tickled, tickling them against their wish might create lifelong trust issues. As they grow older, they may equate tickling to physical abuse, develop a major mistrust for people touching them, and try to avoid crowded places for fear of being touched (5). If you have been tickled as a child and enjoyed it, you might find it difficult to fathom why you must not tickle your child. However, every child is different. While you might have enjoyed the experience, another child might not. You should always ask your child for consent and let them set boundaries before tickling them.
