Great story and great insight into how adorable kids are. Perceptive systems are at fault here, humans learn and categorise the concept of ‘hair’ at an early age, and it has particular behaviours specific to the area you inhabit. When you present hair that falls outside of the systemic understanding of ‘hair’ you get reactions, looks, comments, and requests to touch. It’ll kick people back into their early years learning style – but you’re right, people don’t have to act on this impulse (tho many people do). A very similar thing happens to long blonde haired people in parts of Asia.

What you are doing as a teacher is broadening that early years experience, you’re adding additional information into their perceptive systems, so they won’t become the sort of people who ask to touch your children’s hair in twenty years time – such actions are the basis of cultural blending. This is how a society combats othering. Excellent teacher, excellent writer, excellent use of hair in both educational and social settings.