The many ways to say, ‘I love you’ to a child

In the moments of frustration, exhaustion, and sheer busy-ness of life, it may be difficult to find time to show or say “I love you” to our children.

There are also parents right now who may have never had parents themselves, or didn’t have parents say or express love to them. So it can be really difficult to find the words or the ways to show love to your child, if you have never experienced it.

By showing and telling our children that we love and care for them, can help children feel safe and secure at home and away from home; and it can also help prevent socially unacceptable and deviant behaviours.

Here are some ways to say “I love you” to your child on a daily basis:

• Give hugs and kisses before leaving for work
• Take time each day to be with your child. Turn off the cell, TV, and any other distractions, and just be with your child.
• Sit down and have a snack with your child.
• Have mommy-child or daddy-child date nights.
• Have a bedtime routine that you are involved in that can include tucking in, saying prayers, or singing songs.
• Be available when your child needs you.
• Share the happy-parts and sad-parts from each other’s day.
• Say “I love you” at the end of a conversation, and when leaving
• When disciplining a child you can say, “I don’t like what you did there and there will be a consequence, but it does not change how much I love you.”
• Know your child’s love language. Some will need verbal praise, others will need acts of service, and some will like doing something with you.

Even though children may not always be pleasant, and are rarely easy to deal with, they do provide a real roller-coaster ride of joy, and you can be a part of the ride by sharing and expressing your love to your child.