And adult should NEVER force children to hug anybody.

Exactly

In our house our boys use the phrase “not joking stop” when rough housing to make it clear, because sometimes when playing around they might say “stop” but are actually still having fun. That said, if they just say “stop” to me, I stop.

100%! I tell my boyfriend that all the time when he tries to force his 3 year old nephew to give him hugs. You’re teaching him that what he wants doesn’t matter. You want them to know they have a say in what happens to them. It’s teaching them to set healthy boundaries.

I hated being tickled… I literally couldn’t breathe.

Our rule was: leave them begging for more not begging for you to stop. As the adult, use YOUR ability to know when to stop so you don't step over the abuse line.

It's absolutely wild how many adults lose their minds when they are reminded that children are in fact human beings with thoughts and feelings.

I actually made myself not ticklish. I had such severe asthma and was always ignored when I begged them to stop. If I don’t react there’s no fun for you.

Agreed!!! Also body language matters. If we’re tickling and their hands push mine away - I stop! Even if they ask me “again” as soon as I do. I know it’s an instinctive response, very likely involuntary or subconscious - but their hands pushed me away, I stop. And when they’re playing with each other I point out body language as well as verbal language. Stop means stop.

This