It’s not really a problem but a bit of a dilemma. What would you do?

My son is 4 and in PreK. He is a very happy kid with a positive outlook on everything. He sees good in everyone and everything. For example: something doesn’t go well. He’ll say, we’ll try again later. He loves friends and can easily walk up to a stranger and talk with them, adult or child. He loves “helping” younger kids. Sometimes showing them how to do something or sometimes doing it for them. He always wants to greet other kids by saying hi, whether he knows them or not. Often times, trying to or just going straight to give a hug. Sometimes too much. Other kids get overwhelmed or even scared.

We have gone through varying degrees of this where is has proven to be an issue. We have had to drill in the rules that he can’t touch anybody. But when I am not there, he seems to be getting out of control.

The issue is really at preschool where it seems he isn’t need extra attention for this and is disrupting other kids with his physical affection.

Now I am torn. Do we lay down the rule of absolutely no touching and then punish and in that process maybe lose some of that innocent positivity that he always has or try to just let him outgrow this through practice at the expense of the other kids experiences?

What would you do? Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated.