I’ve been looking through some old parenting books from almost 100 years ago to see what interesting insights can be gleaned about how things used to be done.

According to the author of a book called ‘Child Training’ by Angelo Patri, published in 1922, tickling babies can cause extreme harm to a baby’s development.

According to Angelo, “Chubby babies are a great temptation. Everybody loves to chuck them under the chin and tickle them. But everybody mustn’t. Tickling is bad for children. Sometimes it does serious harm, and it never does any good.

“When a child is tickled his sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and he laughs. The first chuckle may be one of pleasure, but the succeeding laughter is not. It is a reflex, and has nothing to do with joy. Often it causes positive pain and the baby cries. Continued nervous excitement of this sort ends in hysteria, with all its attendant evils. Nobody would knowingly bring such discomfort to a child.”

So actually, when you tickle a baby it only likes it for a short while after which you are effectively hurting the child and bringing on hysteria! But what about children who seem to like being tickled and ask for it? Is it not ok to tickle them? Surely it can’t be that bad if they are actually asking for it? Back over to Angelo:

“A two-year old boy was growing along happily, learning to walk and talk his way through the world. He was one of those laughing cherubs that tempt people to cuddle and tickle them. He liked to be tickled, asked for it, so tickled he was.

“One day some one noticed that the child was stuttering. He had always talked clearly. Perhaps it was just an accident? But he continued to stutter, and it soon became clear that he could not speak clearly and smoothly. He cried easily and tossed in his sleep. He was not happy and he laughed no more. He was an irritable, sick youngster. “

So there you go. Your kid might like being tickled, he or she might even ask for it and enjoy it but according to this nugget of wisdom from 1922 you are actually causing untold pain and suffering, not to mention that some day your child will suddenly develop a stutter and be plunged into the depths of despair and illness. Humm…

In my view – and from what I’ve read from more modern sources – tickling is ok as long is it doesn’t seem to be causing discomfort. If you and your kids like playing tickling games (especially if they request it) then tickle away, it will help strengthen the bond between you.

One last bit of advice from Angelo which I probably can agree with:

“The very best thing to do for little children is to let them alone largely. Watch them and try to follow their needs intelligently. Give them a chance to play, play is their life growth. But if you value their peace of mind and your own, don’t make toys of them.”

Thanks Angelo.