Miss Hugs-a-lot

[physmom]

DD is going through a hugging stage. She hugs EVERYONE. But the thing that concerns me is that she is going up to random kids at the park and bookstores and will hug them. I definitely don't want to discourage her from being affectionate but I also want to teach her about personal space (and I personally don't want some mom yelling at me because my 1 year old wanted to give her kid a hug). What should I do?

[Mama~Love]

Maybe tell her that we only hug people we know, or tell her to hug you instead. My DD is almost 3, and LOVES giving hugs too. She only does it with us though, but she's shy around others.

I couldn't imagine someone getting upset about a hug.

[physmom]

I guess, my biggest worry is that some of the other kids don't seem comfortable with DD hugging them. One actually looked rather scared but DD is not at the point where she can pick up on that, KWIM?