5 Ways to Show Your Kids You Love Them

How do you show your kids you love them? Being a parent is hard work. Kids don’t come with owner’s manuals and even if they did, we’d probably still find a way to screw it up, right? It’s okay because kids are resilient and a parent’s love can get them through even tough times. You may not always get everything perfect but if you show them love as often as you can, you can all get through this together. So how do you show your kids you love them?

Every day you tell your kids how much you love them but sometimes, it doesn’t feel like that’s enough. You want to show them how much they mean to you and that’s not always an easy thing to do. Most people don’t have the time or the extra money to do big, extravagant things to express their love. Fortunately, you don’t have to. You can’t buy a child’s love. Sure, they will be impressed with fancy toys, ice cream and treats, and things that money can buy. However, children of all ages see through this. They need more. They need the unconditional love of their parents. It’s not enough for you to just feel it and assume they will know. You have to tell them and then you also have to back those words with action.

Here are 5 ways to show your kids you love them that they will remember forever:

1. Make time to spend a few minutes a day with each one of your kids. It doesn’t matter if you read a book, play a game or just sit and talk, as long as you have some one-on-one time together. The gift of your time is more precious than any other.
2. Write little notes telling them how much you love them or that you’re proud of them and place them in their lunch boxes, coat pockets, in their rooms, etc. The fact that you took the time to do this will make them feel very special.
3. Listen to them when they talk and really pay attention. Nothing expresses love more than your undivided attention. Put down the phone, turn away from the computer/TV and really listen to them. Don’t try to butt in and tell your opinions, either. Listen to what they’re saying with an open mind and open heart.
4. Show them respect all the time but especially in front of their friends. If there is a problem you need to correct when friends are over, pull your child aside and do it privately. Trust your child with chores and responsibilities. This is another way to show respect and love.
5. Set and enforce rules. Kids may act like they don’t want to follow rules but they know that it’s an important part of life and that you do it out of love. Trying to be your child’s best friend and letting them do whatever they want isn’t going to work out in the end (trust me). Set boundaries, be clear about them, and follow through with consequences. This is one of the greatest acts of love a parent can have.

Showing your kids how much you love them is more important than just telling them because actions truly do speak louder than words. Your acts of love will mean a lot to them and they will remember the special moments you had together, forever.