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How you act affects your kid’s affection
We usually think of the five love languages, which are physical touch, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, spending time together, and acts of service, in terms of romantic relationships. Having a child can often change these love languages between you and your partner. In some scenarios, these small changes can affect your child in many ways. Children’s greatest relationship coaches are their parents. They watch their parents and learn their bases from them.
Affection and intimacy are the love languages kids learn from their parents at an early age, deeply rooted in them forever. Speaking of intimacy, parents need to keep the spark alive in their physical intimacy. While there are various ways to enjoy the “us time,” using a sex toy can never go wrong when spicing things up.
But they also apply to our relationships with our families. Parents who want their kids to know that showing someone you love them is just as good as feeling loved and can be done in many ways can use these tools.
Here’s how you can teach your kids to show love: show them how to do it in different ways and show them how to do it themselves.
How to handle cuddles with respect
Science shows that cuddling makes kids happier as they grow up. Hugs tickles, and cuddles are clear signs of love. Babies learn that they are loved through touch, which is the first feeling they look for when upset.
Some kids can’t help but touch everyone they see because they love being touched. If this sounds familiar, you don’t want to discourage them. Family therapist Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio told Fatherly that parents should stress that physical contact isn’t bad, but doing it without permission is.
Be mindful of ‘I love you’
When it comes to kids, there’s no wrong time to tell them you love them or for them to tell you they do. But there are sometimes wrong ways to say it. Parents shouldn’t use “I love you” as a way to get their kids to do what they want or as a reward when they do well. This kind of talk doesn’t show kids how to love without conditions and can change how they say “I love you” when giving orders.
Having fun together
Quality time may not be as exciting as a gift right away, but the best examples are the ones that last. Routines are a big part of many of our favorite childhood memories, like when our dad sang us lullabies every night or when we went fishing with our mom every week.
Child development experts say parents who are too busy with their phones slow their kids’ mental growth. When the person they’re talking to is busy with something in their hands, kids can’t tell them what they need. When kids feel like no one cares about them, they pull away or act out to get the attention they want.
Ensuring quality time with children is essential in this fast-paced, modern age. Parents foster a strong emotional connection and support their development by doing this. On a different note, if you’re looking to strengthen family bonds through thoughtful gestures, Von Baer produced a great guide on luxury gifts for dads – read it here.
Final Thoughts on
How you act affects your kid’s affection
Being a parent is challenging. While there are no perfect ways or guides to parenting, one can always look into the simplest matters using creative ways and communicating with your kids. One question, “Are you okay with this?” solves many problems!
Happy parenting to you.
Further reading
You might also like my post on activities to do with your kids on a rainy day
and How to strengthen the parent child relationship