The Power of Touch

The following is from the "The Rabbit Effect" by Dr. Kelli Harding.

"Oxytocin is known as the "love hormone" because it's involved in bonding, empathy and trust. It is released at childbirth and during breast-feeding, as well as when we hug, kiss, and snuggle. 

Oxytocin helps us remember faces and build connection, and it increases steadily during the first six months of parenting for moms and dads."

"Oxytocin helps us feel calm, appreciated and even sing more."

"There's a biological reason that a friends supportive hand on our shoulder 

or a pat on the back comforts us."

"The sense of connection from touch is more than emotional attachment. There's a physiological factor. Holding hands lowers our blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol."

This powerful research encourages me to continue to speak to the power and importance of connection in education. How do we connect? A high five, fist bump, handshake, hug, pat on the back. Maybe connection is through the eyes. A long, sustained listening with sincere eye contact. We must continue to create connection and build relationships with our students and our colleagues. Relationships are the most important part of a happy, healthy and successful life. We must invest time and energy in building classroom and school relationships. We must celebrate our various backgrounds, cultures, histories and skills.

We all need to be loved.