National Hug and High Five Day🙌🏻 Warm communication with children

Hello, I am BCBA Park Hye-ji.

Recently, National Hug and High Five Day was celebrated, a day for families and friends to share love and connection through warm hugs and high fives. I hope everyone had a wonderful day! 😊

We express affection with hugs and high fives, but for children on the autism spectrum, it may not always be a happy day.

Because of sensory sensitivities or difficulties interpreting social cues, children may find pressure-based physical contact, such as hugging, sensory distressing rather than enjoyable.

What should parents do if they feel uncomfortable with physical contact? It's important to respect children's diverse sensory characteristics and find appropriate alternatives that help them feel comfortable.

Why is hugging difficult?

While some children enjoy the pressure of a hug, others find hugs uncomfortable.

Children on the autism spectrum are sensitive to touch and may find hugs uncomfortable. ABA takes these sensory characteristics into account and understands their responses based on sensory integration theory. This theory suggests that individuals on the autism spectrum process various senses, including touch, differently.

For children on the autism spectrum, hugging is not simply a physical contact; it's a complex experience involving multiple senses, including touch, pressure, scent, and even the sound of a heartbeat. Simultaneous exposure to multiple sensory experiences can lead to stimulation overload, which can cause anxiety and stress in children.

While high-fives can feel less stressful than hugs due to their brief and predictable physical contact, even these interactions can cause unexpected discomfort in children, so caution is advised. Therefore, it's recommended to assess children's sensory needs through ABA and develop appropriate responses.

Developing Communication Skills through ABA

It's crucial for children to develop the ability to choose and express comfortable physical contact. ABA is effective in helping children establish their own boundaries, ensure their sensory limitations are respected, and develop the ability to express affection in their own preferred way.

🗣️Learn to say, “I’m not comfortable hugging right now,” or

🙌🏻🤛🏻You can set boundaries and create alternative interactions by learning alternative behaviors like high fives or fist bumps instead of hugs.

This ABA approach teaches children how to protect themselves while also helping them develop social interaction skills. Furthermore, ABA can help children avoid uncomfortable situations and develop the ability to express themselves clearly.

How to Enjoy National Hug and High Five Day

Not all children enjoy hugs. ABA respects each child's preferences and sensory needs and suggests alternative ways to express affection. By introducing these alternative interactions, children can more comfortably form social bonds.

- High five or fist bump: A simple physical contact method that can be used instead of a hug and is less sensory-intensive for the child.

- Verbal expression: You can express affection verbally, such as “I’m glad to meet you.”

Using pressure devices: This is an effective way to relieve stress in children with autism. Tools like the compression device developed by Dr. Temple Grandin help children find comfort in the pressure that can replace physical contact. Alternatives to the compression device include weighted blankets or compression vests, which offer sensory-relaxing alternatives to hugging.

Positive reinforcement and hugs

When your child successfully performs a substitute behavior, such as a high five or fist bump, build their confidence by praising them or giving them a reward of their choice, and help them repeatedly express affection in their own preferred way!

National Hug Day is more than just a day to share hugs; it's an opportunity to think about different ways to show affection while respecting your child's sensory needs and boundaries.

When your child feels uncomfortable with hugs, ABA can help them learn how to express love and protect themselves in their own preferred way.

Isn't the point, rather than the form of the hug, to respect your child's senses and preferences, and forge a bond where the entire family understands and respects each other in a sensory-friendly environment? In celebration of National Hug Day, why not explore ways to express love that suit your child?🩷

References:
Allen, L.L., Mellon, L.S., Syed, N. et al. Neurodiversity-Affirming Applied Behavior Analysis. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00918-0

Blossom ABA Therapy. (2024, September 6). Autistic Hugs: A Guide to Sensory Sensitivities, Consent and Connection. Autistic Hugs: Navigating Sensory Challenges and Boundaries. September 10, 2024, https://blossomabatherapy.com/blog/autistic-hugs-sensitivities-boundaries

Hirschberg, E. (2018a, August 15). To Hug or not to Hug: Navigating ASD Social Interactions. Organization for Autism Research. https://researchautism.org/