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Touch: Softly, softly

Touch is important to babies and toddlers for emotional reasons as well as for communication and exploration, says Jennie Lindon

Touch is important to babies and toddlers for emotional reasons as well as for communication and exploration, says Jennie Lindon

Touch and physical closeness are very important for babies and young children. Touch is a direct form of communication for under-threes and can let them know that they are safe and cared for by their parents and other familiar carers, such as in a nursery.

Older babies and young children use touch themselves as a form of communication and to explore interesting play resources. They learn through hands-on experience, so they need an environment that is safe enough but without having so many 'don't touch' orders that life is boring.

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