Dr. Chheda – You might be meeting lots of family and friends over the holidays, and you might be telling your child to go hug a person. Now if your child is comfortable doing that, that’s fine. But if your child is uncomfortable hugging anybody or having anybody touch them, physical touch, it is perfectly fine. Do not shame your child, do not blame your child.

If your child is uncomfortable, that’s perfectly fine. Your child is observing other people. Your child does not need to hug everybody that is around them. You need to protect them – they are your child. You don’t have to save face in society. Please protect your child. If they really don’t want to hug somebody, that’s perfectly fine. You can say, you can be polite and say hello. You can observe, “My child is not comfortable with touch, with other people’s touch, and that’s perfectly fine. My child is sensitive,” however you want to phrase it. But don’t force your child to do something that is not necessary.