Happy Days Nursery in Dundee, Scotland, introduced the practice of children giving each other a daily cuddle to help them feel happy a year ago. Nursery staff say that since then, they have noticed that children are more empathetic towards each other and use more caring language.
Other reported effects of the Cuddle Circles project, which is being overseen by Dr Suzanne Zeedyk, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Dundee, are that children share more and hug each other without being prompted.
The nursery says the project was inspired by a seminar on autism delivered by Dr Zeedyk, who demonstrated how affection can make autistic adults happier, and suggested the nursery try the same technique with the children.
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