Tickling babies is one of those ways of playing that has been handed down from generation to generation. It is rarely questioned but deserves to be thought about more carefully, as it’s a form of play that can, despite good intentions, hurt a child.
Tickling is one of the ways to play that puts people in touch with each other. It also is a dependable way to get lots of laughter rolling. So tickling looks, on the surface, like a kind of play that children enjoy, which is good for them. And indeed, some children ask their parents for tickling games. Parents also confess that it feels great to have an instant way to laugh and be playful together.
However, tickling comes up again and again as a hurtful experience. Let’s learn how.
The Foundations of Healthy Play
Do you want to enjoy tickling a baby? If yes, then you must ensure all the necessary things that are needed in healthy play.
The rules below are usually in effect in healthy play. They ensure fun and make play an intelligence-building activity.
- Each child is respected.
- Each child has a way to succeed.
- Each child’s contributions are acknowledged.
- Each child knows that he/she is safe from criticism and belittlement.
- Each child can say what he/she thinks and wants. His/her ideas may not be workable, and limits may need to be set, but His/her thoughts are welcome as a worthy contribution.
- No child is coerced into a powerless or subservient role in the guise of play.
- An adult is present or nearby to ensure the play stays safe and inclusive.
- The adults take on a less powerful role to encourage laughter.
Where Tickling Falls Short?
The main problem with tickling is that children may not be able to say when they want it to stop.
Laughter is an automatic response to being touched by a tickler—it’s not a response that the child can opt out of. This puts the tickler in charge of how much or how long the child laughs. Most people remember unpleasant or frightening times when you wanted a tickler to stop. But you were laughing so hard you couldn’t say it, or worse, you said, “Stop!” or tried to escape, and the tickler continued.
You usually think you are aware of what’s too much tickling and when to stop. But it is possible to trap your children without knowing it. So, when you are tickling a baby, be very cautious.
Play and Be Close: There are Alternatives to Tickling
Parents and children crave times together when there’s lots of free-flowing laughter and playful contact. You become attached to tickling because it seems to be a handy shortcut to laughter. You long to know that your children are happy and love you. tickling kids becomes your shortcut to this reassurance.
You can boost your children’s confidence by getting down on the floor and engaging in playful physical contact with them. Games like “I have a hundred hugs for you!” or “Oh, no! I can’t get this horse rider off my back!” let children laugh as you try to catch them or bounce them off your backs and fail over and over.
But Children Often Ask to Be Tickled!
When tickling baby feet or underarms is one of the main options for being playfully close in a family, children will ask for it. Their need to be close and to feel your enjoyment beaming toward them is stronger than their fear of being trapped by tickling, so they want it.
One way to transition from tickling to playful contact that allows the child to be in charge is to pretend to tickle when tickling is requested. Wiggle your fingers close to your child’s tummy or sides, and make your usual playful threats. But keep your hands an inch or two away from her body, letting the kid laugh and laugh without taking the chance of trapping her. If your child tickles you in return, you can playfully writhe and try to get away. He/She’s making you the victim in a role reversal that lets him/her offload any tension he/she may feel about tickling.
Other Kinds of Playful Physical Contact are Great If You Offer Your Child the Initiative
Children need you to be affectionate with them and playfully persistent with your affection at times. It’s one way to communicate that you’re in love with them. Blowing raspberries on your child’s tummy, nuzzling into his/her armpit, giving bucking bronco rides and nibbling fingers or toes are some ways to tickle babies. They are all affectionate moves that might bring a ticklish reaction. These kinds of play are fine as long as you let the play “breathe” after each affectionate move.
You kiss your child’s toes and then let go and see what response he/she has. If he/she gets up and runs away, you can lumber after her on hands and knees. Or you bury your head in her tummy, then pull back and grin as he/she decides what he/she wants to do. If he/she laughs and lies there, waiting, you can try it again. Children love to come closer to you, play games, and be playful. You just need to keep giving them chances to guide the play.
Thoughtfulness about playing with your children doesn’t mean being extremely careful. It does mean putting in just a few guidelines that help you balance the power between your children and yourself while play proceeds.
At Kangaroo Kids International Preschool, we teach kids by employing playful techniques so that they get the best learning experience. To learn more about our curriculum, contact us today.
