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20 ways to love your children

1. Set aside time just to talk with your child. No phones, no TV, just talk. Find out what happened during your child’s day.

2. In good weather, sit outside with your child and watch the world go by, even if it’s only for 10 minutes.

3. Make family routines and traditions. Try to share at least one meal as a family every day. If weekdays are impossible, then every weekend.

4. Talk to your child about school and friends.

5. Tell your child you love her.

6. Tell her again.

7. Go to the park. Walk around; swing on the swings.

8. Pay attention to what your child is doing. Things that seem mundane to parents can be very important to children. Share your child’s little victories.

9. Let your child help with what you are doing.

10. Show interest in your child’s thoughts and feelings so he will be more willing to come to you with his problems and concerns.

11. Respect your child’s thoughts and feelings. Her feelings are as real to her as yours are to you.

12. Tell your child you love him.

13. Tell him again.

14. Look at your child when you talk together. If she sees you reading a newspaper or watching TV while she is talking, she may believe that what she is saying is unimportant to you.

15. Catch your child being good, and praise him.

16. Make a bedtime routine that you try to stick to every night. Children like routines, and it can be a great time for sharing the day’s events.

17. Read a story together.

18. Make something with your child. Make brownies or a birdhouse.

19. Tell your child you love them. Hug them.

20. Tell them again. Hug them again.

Tags: children

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Permalink Reply by Sara Duggan on February 8, 2011 at 1:52am

One of my 3 in 30 goals for this month is to note a positive or encourage my boys each day this month - this will definitely come in handy - Wouldn't it be great to have a 365 list so we have at least one per day for an entire year?

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Permalink Reply by Janice Lim on February 8, 2011 at 7:51am

Nice! One of the things I do that my daughters love is that I write them letters. It doesn't have to be very often. I love the look on their faces whenever they're surprised to get another one from me. :D

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on February 9, 2011 at 7:23am

Great post. It all comes down to communication.

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Permalink Reply by OneMommy on March 31, 2011 at 2:51pm

So simple and yet so many parents miss out on these great opportunities! I try to give each of mine a kiss every time I strap them in their car seats. And I definitely love to give hugs; I don't remember my family being very huggy when I was growing up; I'd like to make that change with my own kids.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Kardon on March 31, 2011 at 2:53pm

Great list. As parents, it's so easy to get caught up in things and only communicate with your child when they do something wrong or dangerous. Just communicating and praising them for good things is crazy valuable!