Should your child be forced to hug and kiss relatives?

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- For some families, hugging and kissing relatives at family gatherings is all about respect. But for some kids, the idea of forced affection can be overwhelming.

It's a topic Popsugar recently tackled: Should you make your child show affection to a relative?

Here's my daughter, a hugger, when she wants to be - especially with friends.

But like most kids, sometimes she gives us the side eye when we ask her go around the table and let the relatives have a squeeze.

This is very common in our Italian culture and many others, but Popsugar's experts say kids should be in control of their body boundaries.

They suggest making hugs and kisses optional and parents should let the child decide what feels comfortable.

They offer this approach: "Affection should never be forced."

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