Physical contact with children

It is important for children, especially younger children, to be able to have physical contact with you. 

• • This will be easier if you are paraplegic and able to use your arms to cuddle your child. 
  • If you have limited use of your arms, the prospect of physical contact may be more worrying for you.
  • You should still try to allow children the opportunity to cuddle you and let them realise that you are still the same person.

Involving other people in the visit may help

• • This may be particularly relevant with younger children who are less able to respond to verbal prompts and need more “hands-on” guidance
  • Doing this with supervision from another person will reassure you that your child is safe and also reduce the risk of them hurting you, or pulling at things they should not!

You and your child may need to re-learn ways of sharing physical closeness

• • This may mean your child accepting verbal instruction rather than physical gestures
  • You need to find ways to be comfortable in allowing them to get close to you without physically being able to restrain them yourself. 
  • It may help to invent your own ‘special hugs’ that you and your child can share, which work for you according to where you have movement/sensation.