 Family Life
Living in Loveland
Languages of Love: Showing
There are many customized ways to love. There is telling. There
is hugging. And there is showing. Every person likes to receive love in a little
different way.
For people who like to be shown love, actions speak louder than
words. Rather than be told about your love, they want to see it. This applies
with adults and with children.
Everyone likes to be shown love. While showing may not be the
main way a certain child wants to be loved, showing is important to everyone.
For example, a boy may be glad that his father promises to take him fishing.
Promises will stop being helpful if the father does not actually take his son
fishing. An ounce of action may be worth a pound of promise.
The best way to show a child love is the way the child likes to
receive love. Sometimes parents try to provide big events to show their love to
their children. A child may prefer that the parent simply collects bugs with
her, takes a walk with her, or helps her build a treehouse.
There are many ways to show love.
Take a bike ride together
Play a game together
Help the child organize his room
Go to a ballgame together
Make a trip to the library together
Sit together and talk
Work on a project together: make something with
paper or clay or sticks or fabric or . . .
Go to an interesting place - a museum or a power plant or . . .
Go fishing together
Sing together
Go to a movie together
Go camping together
Go shopping together
Have a treasure hunt
Read a book together
Take a hike together
Take a walk around the block
Sit and watch the stars come out
Stay tuned. Listen to what your child says. Notice what your
child does. Join your children in their lives. Parents are not perfect at
showing love to their children. We can be effective if we keep learning and
trying.
Applications.
Think of each of your children individually.
What does that child love doing?
Is there some way you can support him or her in that?
What are some requests your child has made of you? (Will you
help me with my science project? Could we shop for some fabric?)
Can you show your love by responding to those requests?
Make regular dates to do things with your child that are
important to that child.
Are there ways that you have successfully shown love to your child in the
past? Consider what seems to be most effective with each child.
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