As children get older, they need to understand not just the rules of social interaction but why people act (or don’t act) these ways. Children need to know how to set their own boundaries. The approaching holidays are a great time to discuss these boundaries and how to express them politely. Talk to your children about whether they would like to give hugs to family members, whether they want to give or receive any other forms of affection. For more information, read the article “Teaching Kids about Boundaries” at https://childmind.org/article/teaching-kids-boundaries-empathy/.