The Greek word for bless is used in the imperfect tense in this sentence. That suggests that Jesus was blessing the children one after another. Most likely, Jesus took into his arms each child brought to him, one at a time. This embrace was a public demonstration of the child’s acceptance and value in the kingdom. After Jesus hugged a child he probably spoke a blessing while laying his hands on that child. He may have uttered a brief prayer asking the Father to bestow his blessing on that child.1
16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.