Child Life Certification Practice Test 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Positive touch is an essential component of interacting with young children, as it can create a sense of safety, support emotional well-being, and foster trust in relationships. Each of the first three options reflects forms of touch that promote comfort and connection.

Patting or hugging initiated by the child symbolizes the child's agency in seeking comfort, which is an important aspect of positive interactions. Massage and comforting gestures, such as gentle strokes or pats, help soothe and calm children, reinforcing the bond between caregiver and child. Providing physical comfort through holding, such as cradling or embracing, can also be very reassuring for a child and is often used to alleviate distress.

In contrast, using clinical restraint methods does not fall under the definition of positive touch. Clinical restraint often implies a lack of consent and can invoke feelings of fear or powerlessness in children, negating the nurturing aspects that positive touch aims to provide. Thus, this choice accurately captures an action that does not align with the principles of positive touch as it can cause distress rather than comfort.