Saying 'I Love You' to Children
10 Ways to Make Kids Feel Special By Spending Time, Not Money
Kids need constant reassurance that they are loved by their parents, even if they do not hear “I Love You” every day. For many kids, actions speak louder than words and they respond to sharing activities better than a verbal expression of endearment. Parents need to be creative and show their kids they love them in many ways. Here are ten ideas parents can try.
Write a Note
Send a short note in the kids’ lunch bags or tape a special message on their mirror in the morning. Seeing “Good luck on your test” may be all a child needs to feel that his parents hear him.
Watch a Movie
Make time to sit down and watch a movie of the kids choosing. Be sure to watch all of it with them and resist the temptation to make dinner or catch-up on household chores. Not only will time be spent together, the movie may help begin conversations about things important to the kids.
Make a Treat
Make a favourite meal or dessert just for them as a special treat or a family tradition. Spend time making it look great, even if it is simply peanut butter toast that has a happy face made out of dried fruit.
Find a Special Activity
Go to a workshop or program that is just for them. Consider taking them to no or low cost activities such as a crafts program at the library, an open house at a new children’s museum, or a drop-in program such as a playgroup.
Offer Affection
Give kids a hug, a kiss on the cheek or play with their hair anytime throughout the day. Respect their personal boundaries and try not to embarrass them in front of their friends, as this may make the kids feel upset, rather than cherished.
Listen and Talk
Turn off the television and let phone calls go to voicemail as the kids talk about their day. Some kids may be uncomfortable with a face-to-face conversation, so try talking while doing dishes or cooking together.
Read Together
Offer to read as many books as the children want at one sitting. Let them choose the books without any input from an adult and pick a time other than bedtime for the reading marathon otherwise it could be a late night!
Get Creative
Spread a drop cloth across the kitchen table and paint a picture or do play dough together. If getting messy is not everyone’s idea of fun, play many rounds of a game chosen by the kids.
Tell Family Stories
Nothing says “I Love You” to kids like telling stories about them when they were little. Pictures and videos are visual reminders of memories which can lead to wonderful bonding talks as a family.
Walk Together
Take a spontaneous walk together, but go at the child’s pace. With smaller kids, the walk may not be long but parents have the chance to see the world through their child’s eyes. Teens and pre-teens may be inclined to open up and talk on a quiet stroll at night.
When it comes to kids, it is not necessary to buy gifts or to take them somewhere elaborate to show how wonderful they are. Whether it is for Valentine’s Day or for no particular reason at all, the best way of telling kids “I Love You” is by spending quality time with them.
