Simple Ways to Speak Your Child’s Love Language
What’s your child’s love language? As grown-ups, we know showing love is more than saying “I love you.” The same goes for children! How do you ensure that your child knows and understands that you love them?
Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell, authors of The 5 Love Languages of Children says discovering your child’s primary love language—then speaking it—will help develop a stronger relationship with your child.
Here’s a list of simple ways to speak your child’s love language:
Words of Affirmation
- use encouraging words and phrases often
- call them a loving nickname
- write love notes
- praise them in front of others
- recognize their efforts
- speak highly of your child so they can overhear
- notice and acknowledge what they like
- slip a note in their lunchbox
Acts of Service
- cook a special meal or treat
- help pick outfits
- do a chore they would normally do
- give a surprise room makeover
- help them clean their room
- bring them a drink of water
- organize their closet
- ask how you can help them today
- tuck them in at night
Quality Time
- give your full, undivided attention
- put away screens
- run errands together
- go on walks
- play a game
- let them help with special tasks
- share stories and feelings
- stop what you’re doing and make contact
- one-on-one outings
- do projects together
Gifts
- give small, inexpensive rewards for a job well done
- leave a gift before bedtime or when they wake up
- give smaller ‘countdown’ gifts leading to a special occasion
- keep a treasure chest of trinkets to give at unexpected times
- treasure hunts
Physical Touch
- snuggle on the couch
- hold hands
- give lots of kisses and hugs
- high fives
- do their hair
- pat them on the back
- make up hand shakes
- cuddle and read together
- family group hugs
- give sensory gifts like blankets and stuffed animals
- manicures
- pedicures
- tickles
This list is just to get your imagination going! How do you speak your child’s love language?
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Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
4 Comments
What if your child’s love language is all 5?
That’s amazing! Hopefully any combination of these tips help!
How can you separate the physical touch language from just lovingly from smothering/helicopter parent/comforting bad behavior. Or without getting to indepth, his good behaviors are praised with touch and also his bad behaviors are as well. I dont think a 2 year old is capable of knowing the difference between the two. How do you let the child know “lovingly” their behavior is not acceptable without depriving them of their love language
Thank you,
Really would be happy with any kind of answer.
Never ever discipline them in their love language. If it is physical touch, never spank. If it is quality time, never use time outs. If it is acts of service don’t withhold them as a consequence. If it’s gifts don’t make getting the items condition, good behavior=gift, bc that would “speak” to them, “you have to earn my love.