Why Psychologist Advises Parents To Avoid Kissing Children On The Lips
Some experts who study children’s minds think parents should not kiss their kids on the lips.
This has become a big talk online because some famous people have posted pictures of themselves kissing their children on the mouth.
In the past, a chef named Gino D’Acampo got negative comments online when he shared a photo like this. He told those criticizing him to “get over it” and said he would keep kissing his daughter on the lips.
There’s even a funny video of a child who looks like they don’t like their parents kissing!
Another famous person, David Beckham, also caused a lot of discussion when he posted a picture kissing his ten-year-old daughter on the lips. People online asked him why he would do that, saying it looked “weird” and “not right.”
An actress named Hilary Duff also got angry comments when she shared a photo of her kissing her son on the lips. Even though many people liked the picture, lots of others told her it was not okay.
A child psychologist named Charlotte Reznick, who used to teach at a big university, has warned that these kisses that seem innocent could actually cause problems.
She told a newspaper that it might confuse children, especially when they start to understand that kissing between adults can be romantic or sexual.
Dr. Reznick explained that a young child might think, “If mommy kisses daddy on the mouth, what does it mean when I kiss my parents on the mouth?”
However, not all experts agree with this idea. Many psychologists don’t think kissing a child on the lips will cause any harm.
Another psychologist, Sally-Anne McCormack, said very clearly that kissing a young child on the lips will not confuse them at all. She even compared it to breastfeeding, saying it’s a natural thing.
But there’s also the worry about spreading germs.
A dentist has advised parents not to kiss their children on the lips until all their baby teeth have grown in.
This dentist, Dr. Richard Marques, said that baby teeth are different from adult teeth. He said that kissing can spread colds and other sicknesses through spit, and it can also cause baby teeth to rot and affect the gums before the teeth are even fully there.
Dr. Marques also pointed out that young children don’t have as strong bodies to fight off germs as adults do.
So, while kissing your child on the lips might seem like a loving thing to do, some experts are worried about the confusion it could cause in their minds and the germs it could spread in their bodies. Other experts think it’s perfectly fine and just a way to show love. It’s a topic that people have very different feelings about.
