Small children and babies are very much in touch with their feelings. Children feel better after they cry; they gain security from a simple hug. When we hug children, we teach them that the world is "safe." In this way, children and babies discover whether the world is a caring place or a painful, dangerous place - they learn whether people can be trusted or not. All further knowledge will build upon these first impressions. Eventually, the sense of touch is used to discover things that are cold or hot, hard or soft, wet or dry, and smooth or rough. Once these concepts are learned through the sense of touch, sound-symbols (words) will be attached to form a code that we think of as language.
If a child is denied meaningful human contact (including touch) for a long period of time he or she will develop a condition known as failure to thrive syndrome. The syndrome will result in weight loss, listlessness, lack of interest in life, empty staring, and in extreme cases, death. Many therapies for adults are based on the fact that we tend to distance ourselves from our feelings as we grow older. We can learn a lot by going back to our childhood.
Interestingly enough, when adults are hugged, they too feel a little safer; when they cry, they too feel a little better! While we are often taught to hide, deny, or squelch feelings, they will still be there to generate a great deal of bubbling, brewing anxiety. Perhaps little children know something that adults have forgotten. The Bible does say, "A little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6).
"Your right hand shall hold me fast" (Psalm 139:10). "And he took (the little children) up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:16). Sometimes, a hug is the only thing that can help!