Across living rooms, group chats, and holiday tables, a surprisingly emotional debate is unfolding: should children be expected to hug relatives, or should they get to opt out without consequences.

For many of us, the holiday season involves gatherings with extended family. Ideally, such get-togethers are fun and easy, but for some of us they can be stressful. As a pediatrician, I’d like to ...

Across living rooms and group chats, parents are quietly bracing for the same holiday standoff: a shy kid, an eager grandparent, and a chorus of adults urging a hug. What used to be treated as basic ...