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I write with the Primary School Child in mind.

Touch is the most communicative of all human interaction. Whether it's aggressive or gentle, touch conveys a message to the receiver, almost impossible in verbal or written communication. Contact is natural to most species, not least the human. In fact, if we were to go back to the very origins of humanity, we find signs where communities huddled together to protect from cold, from predator and from competing groups. I would suggest that before language, most communication was touch and body language.

A new born is introduced almost immediately to its mother, why, because bonding is necessary. Those poor children who are starved of human touch and indeed starved of experiencing affection have greater difficulties in expressing emotion and integrating into society, than those who have been fortunate enough to grow up in a physically warm environment. As any professional, who is involved with children will know, there is a spontaneity with the young and it is often expressed with a sudden hug, or a grabbing of the hand. Children are spontaneous, and it is only the onset of so called maturity, that sees this natural affection disappear.

There is a caveat to this need to make physical contact, of course there always is. In our so called developed world, we've seen the introduction of adults, who themselves have a major problem. Regrettably, but understandably, children need protection from some individuals who cannot be trusted in the presence or around children. While paedophilia has probably always been with us, at least we have recognised the problem, and try to protect the vulnerable.

I believe it is with this issue in mind, that primary schools have taken the no contact route.

To add to this, there are children who respond negatively to any physical contact with another, and see it as assault. This of course opens the doors to litigation, and no school enjoys the experience. Regrettably schools have had very little choice.

Interestingly children in countries where a visage of ethnic culture has been retained, children hold hands, both boys and girls showing openly a friendship which has no sexual or physical connotations. Then of course, the so called backward societies they come from have strict codes of conduct, codes which are built into the very psyche of their peoples from an early age.

While primary schools have perhaps gone overboard with the no touching rules, they have done so out of necessity and not choice. It's a sad reflection on our so called civilized world that this has had to happen.

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