Hug Button: The Simple Tool Parents Can Use To Comfort Anxious Children Heading Back To School

We absolutely love this idea πŸ’•πŸ™Œ

A mum came up with the genius idea of creating β€œhug buttons” to comfort her son who was anxious about starting school, and it has gone down well with other parents.

Louise Mallett, from Ipswich, said her four-year-old son Max was feeling a β€œlittle emotional” on the morning of his first full day of school.

β€œWe had a chat and came up with the idea of having a heart each [on our hands] and if we pressed it, it sent a hug to the other one,” she explained.

β€œHe said he cried as he missed me on his first half day last week, but this totally worked.”

Mallett drew a heart on the palms of their hands, and gave her son a spare one on his arm in case the one on his hand wore off.

They β€œcharged” the heart on the morning before school by holding hands on the school run. To receive β€œhugs” during the day, Max just had to press on his heart - and it was a roaring success.

β€œWhen I picked him up, I said: β€˜Did you get my hugs?’ and he happily said: β€˜Yep, I pressed it for a long time mummy but I didn’t cry’,” the mum explained.

β€œSo I said: β€˜Ahhhh that will be that big squeeze I got, did you get my big squeeze back?’ and he said: β€˜Yep!’

β€œBless him, here’s to many more happy days at school.”

Louise Mallett and her son Max.
LouiseMallett
Louise Mallett and her son Max.

Mallett initially shared her story on a private parenting group on Facebook called The Motherload and it gained such attention that she was encouraged by mums on the group to share it publicly on her own page.

She shared an update on the third day of using the hug button, and wrote: β€œDay three and we’re still doing the hug heart. He told me off this morning as we were holding hands the wrong side and he said: β€˜They won’t charge mummy!’

β€œSilly me. He said he’s still sending me hugs and I told him I felt every one and always sent one back and he said he got them all.”

The Motherload

Editor of parenting blog The Motherload Alison McGarragh-Murphy told HuffPost UK: β€œThe new school year has just started and our members have been talking about the struggles of their children who are finding it difficult to settle in as they start school for the very first time.

β€œSo when Louise Mallett posted the gorgeous photo of her and Max’s hug buttons we absolutely loved her idea - as did our members. Lots of mums in our lovely supportive community tried hug buttons too, and found that they also helped their child cope better with going to school for the first time.

β€œIt’s such a sweet, simple way to help your child feel happier and more settled. All you need is a pen, two hands and a lot of love.”

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