Easy ways to make a child feel loved?

[Anonymous]

If he still naps make a habit of napping with him one weekend day every weekend. My DD loves this. Its her favorite time.

I also let them do the 5 minute bed cuddle with us in the morning if they wake up early before school. I also think reading books together at night, even when they start reading, is priceless both for emotional and academic growth.

[Anonymous]

I work fulltime too and up until a year or so ago worked for a very family unfriendly firm (was there from birth up through start of kindergarten). I was gone all day, sometimes evenings, and often weekends. If I was not gone physically during these times, I was on the phone or working from home. Here is what I did to try and make sure my daughter knew that I loved her...

1. I never kissed her one time ever and still haven't. I kiss her about 30 times (at least). And from infancy I have told her, "I need a thousand kisses!!" She loves it.

2. I call her by special nicknames and ask her, "Are you my _______?" Her dad calls her by a different set of nicknames so sometimes ask if she "my _________" and I use daddy's nicknames so she corrects me. She thinks it is a riot.

3. We have special times where she sits on me and so does the dog and then we watch TV.

4. We have dinner together and I accept her picky eating. I found the healthiest choices of the foods she will eat and that is what she eats. If she tries new things I praise her but I don't force new foods, cajole, or even suggest. It removes SO much tension.

[Anonymous]

From everything I have seen and done (as teacher and parent), routines and traditions are the best way to keep connected to a child, even if you cannot physically be with the child as much as you would like. Anything from special breakfasts to special things at night, weekly trips to the library, as long as the kid ANd you love it and you do it REGULARLY, it is loving and comforting to the child.

[Anonymous]

PP here again. You will notice (as I did!) that everyone is talking about CHEAP or even free things. Says so much about our ridiculous need to shove special stuff down their throats.

[Anonymous]

When I was little, my dad sang a song he made up for me every single night before I went to sleep. It is one of my most cherished memories, and he still sings a little bit to me sometimes when he hugs me. I have a very young baby so we don't have any of the traditions yet, but I think about it a lot.

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of making a list of things you love about him. You could put this in writing, read it to him, and post it in an obvious place. Even if he can't read yet, seeing it in writing will make it seem even more important and special.

[Anonymous]

For older kids -- elementary, middle and high school -- play with them and have fun together. Shoot baskets for 10 minutes or play scrabble for half-an-hour, or curl up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie or their favorite TV show. My 9th-grade son and I watch "The Office" together every week; my 3rd-grade daughter and I watch all kinds of girlie movies and old musicals. Also, I loved the suggestions about spending one-on-one time, having traditions and rituals, and working together. Baking and cooking with my kids is always fun. One more thing -- look at family photos and watch home videos or those old super-8 home movies together. My kids, plus my nieces and nephews, love to see pictures of their parents when we were kids. My husband's yearbook is a great source of entertainment; wish I could find mine . . . or maybe not!