Growing up as a kid, can you remember what made you feel loved? May be you remember having a great time with your parents, holidays, being helped with homework or just telling them few secrets. As a parent now, are you making the effort to make your kids feel loved?
Even if you never felt loved by your parents while growing up, make it a duty that your kids case will be different. A child might not be loved by people around him/her but if they are loved by their parents every single day, you are giving them the greatest gift of all. When a child doesn't grow in love, it affects them psychologically, emotionally and physically. It is the little things that count.
Below are ways to make your kids feel loved. Even when you become grandparents, you will be surprised that they still remember them.
1. Show physical affection.
Countless studies show that kids thrive on warmth and affection. The child feels loved and will have a greater self-esteem. There is no need to go overboard but a kiss or hug once a day will do you both a lot of good. It lessens the chances of your kids becoming aggressive, anti-social and having other behavioral problems. While adolescents might be embarrassed at the physical affection, there should always be words of support and empathy to take its place.
2. Make bedtime a precious moment.
For younger kids, they will always treasure those moments when you read them story as they drift happily into sleep. It is an unique bonding experience for parents and kids. The extra bonus is that this also helps your child's brain development.
3. Spend quality time with each other.
It is wonderful when both parents can spend quality time on a one on one basis with their kids.It can be anything from playing sports,cooking or helping with chores. There is no better way of showing your kids that you really love and cherish them.
4. Leave funny and affectionate notes and messages.
It can be a text or a little note tucked under their pillow. It can be a joke, an affectionate nickname or anything that shows the kids they are still on your radar.
5. Turn off the TV at mealtimes.
Mealtimes are rare moment to enjoy each other's company. There are enormous advantages for kids. They eat more healthily as it is not rushed. Not much fun when kids have to compete with TV commercials. They also enjoy the companionship of their parents and they are much less likely to have eating disorder later on.
6. Look into their eyes.
The best way of communicating with your kids is to look them straight in their eyes as you talk to them. Eye contact is so important in this age when everyone is glued to some computer, device or phone. The child can learn to wait until he or she has your full attention but this is worth waiting for. It is also a great lesson to teach a child that eye contact is a very important social skill as they get older.
7. Turn off your smartphone.
When you get home or your kids get back from school, turn off your phone and give them full attention at least for the first half hour. Kids love this because they know you are not going to be distracted by texts or calls as they tell you what happened at school.
8. Be a great role model.
How many times have you told your kids what to do, how to be polite, to always put on their seat belt in cars, and how to be a giver. Kids generally can be stingy but you have to teach them how to be a giver. Oftentimes, parents forget that they must be the perfect role models because children are great copycats. No better way to show that you love your kids than to walk the talk. Be kind, affectionate and caring to others.
9. Involve them in decision making.
What to wear to an occasion, school, or where to visit when you go on holidays can be decided together with your kids. Make sure your kids are fully involved and engaged. It is also great for kids to start learning how to make decision with their parents guidance.
10. Take action when your child is unhappy.
There may be problems at school with bullying. show that you care and ask to see the people involved and just try to find out what is the cause of the tension and unease. It may well be the child's fault but when it is not, there is an ideal opportunity to show you are there for them and you will be their champion. You can do practical things like participating in a bully prevention program at your kid's school and also teaching your child how to react when bullied.
11. Just play with them.
When kids are interview, they often said that they felt there was far too much going on and that they were overscheduled. They really want some downtime with their parents where they can just play, have fun, laugh and be together. It might be a good idea to cut out one or two activities so that you do not end up being their chauffeur.
12. Save cards and gifts.
When your child gives you a note, funny drawing or little poem, show that you care by treasuring them. Put them in a special drawer or folder. show the child a photo of where you keep a favorite picture in your office. You can take digital photo of the artwork and store them on a photo sharing site. Show your kids the result at regular intervals. It gives the child a great sense of achievement .
13. Smile often.
What better way of showing your love and warmth for your children than smiling every time they come into the room. This immediately puts them at ease and also confirms that their presence is valued and that they are not a nuisance. They may be times when they need to be reminded about bad behavior but why not use the other 90% to show that you love them.
14. Never interrupt their stories.
When a child has a story to tell about what happened at school never interrupt them but hear them out. The same goes when they want to share a book with you or show you a picture story. They will feel loved and wanted. If parents ignore them or are too busy, kids will be the first to suffer and it is likely to last into adolescence and adulthood unless we really make the effort now. Love and affection are the foundation of happiness. By showing kids this love single day you are giving them the greatest gift of all.
15. Discipline them with love and affection.
The key to successful parenting is not to switch on the love when they do well and deny it when they misbehave. Let they know the reason why they are being punished not violently dealing with them. caution them rightly . make them feel their parent love is truly unconditional.
"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence".- Aristotle
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