Some early childhood programs have adopted no-touch policies, and others allow only a very minimal level of physical contact between teachers and children. Yet touch is as necessary as food or water for young children to thrive and grow physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Experiences of touch in all its forms¿whether nurturing touch from adults, tactile explorations of the environment, or physical interactions with peers¿ are essential to high-quality early care and education. From this book, practitioners will learn just why touch is essential in young children¿s development and how it can be incorporated safely in early childhood settings, from the infant program to the primary classroom.