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Ways to show children we care!

Notice them and notice when they are absent.

Learn their friends names.

Ask them about themselves.

Wave and smile when you part.

Look in their eyes and get on their level when you talk to them.

Do a chore that is normally reserved for them.

Tuck an encouraging note inside their lunchbox.

Give them your full attention.

Tell them some of the ways they make you happy.

Make them laugh.

Laugh with them.

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Laugh at their jokes.

Delight in their discovery.

Write an encouraging note or a postcard.

Make their favorite treat to welcome them home from school with.

Show them your joy when they arrive.

Ask for hugs and kisses.

Take them to a movie they want to see.

Go on a treasure hunt (collect all the loose change around the house/car) together and then make a trip to the arcade with your findings.

Take a long nature walk together, at their pace. Let them lead the conversation.

Find qualities about them that you genuinely love, and compliment them in front of others.

Frame a photo of the two of you, and display it in their room.

Put a few Hershey’s Hugs in one of their coat pockets, and Kisses in the other.

Play a game with them. Let them win.

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Point out what you like about them.

Marvel at what they can do.

Make bath time special. Add lots of bubbles, coloured soaps, maybe you could purchase a new tub toy or let them play with things found around the house.

Send them a handmade card in the mail with a coupon to go get ice cream with you.

Gather all the home movies that feature them as the “star” and have a movie night complete with popcorn and treats.

Show up at their events.

Cheer their accomplishments.

Using blankets and chairs, or a card table, build a clubhouse together and have a picnic inside.

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Read “I love you” books together.

Let them stay up past their bedtime with you and watch cartoon classics together.

Listen, and let them make their own decisions whenever possible.

Make them a coupon book filled with things they’d enjoy doing, or things they’d like to get out of doing.

Take a day off from everything: work, household duties, technology, etc. and focus entirely on them.

Cook together.

Write them a poem using the initials of their name.

Decorate their room for no reason.

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Create a sign that lavishes them with praise.

Kidnap them from school and take them out for lunch.

Make home a fun place to be.

Make a treasure box from an old shoe box, fill it with “gold” (chocolate coins) and make an official looking treasure map with clues for them to locate the hidden treasure with.

Go to the store and let them pick out all the ingredients to make banana splits. Make and eat them together.

Wrap up in a warm blanket together and take turns making up stories to tell each other.

Make a list of things you love about them and put it on their pillow before bedtime.

Talk about what they did in their day at dinnertime.

Sit down together and write a list of fun activities to do in a day. Write each idea on small slips of paper, roll up the papers and stick them inside balloons.Blow up all the balloons and then pop one balloon at a time until you have completed all the activities.

Celebrate their milestones.

Find a common interest.

Play back rub/tickle games—ie; Spider crawling up your back…

Make a CD with all their favourite tunes and have a dance party.

Model good character in the home.

Be clear about your values.

Show respect for your spouse, your children, and other family members.

Model and teach your children good manners.

Have family meals together without television as often as possible.

Plan as many family activities as possible. Involve your children in the planning.

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Don’t provide your children access to alcohol or drugs.

Plan family service projects or civic activities.

Read to your children and keep good literature in the home.

Limit your children’s spending money.

Discuss the holidays and their meanings. Have family celebrations and establish family traditions.

Capitalize on the “teachable moment.” Use situations to spark family discussions on important issues.

Assign home responsibilities to all family members.

Set clear expectations for your children and hold them accountable for their actions.

Keep your children busy in positive activities.

Learn to say no and mean it.

Know where your children are, what they are doing, and with whom.

Refuse to cover for your children or make excuses for their inappropriate behaviour.

Know what television shows, videos, and movies your children are watching.

Remember that you are the adult! Children don’t need another buddy, but they desperately need a parent who cares enough to set and enforce appropriate limits for their behaviour.

Say “I understand” and mean it.

Ask for their opinion….and listen!

Think discipline (teach) vs. punish.

Empower them to help.

Model self-care.

Praise him for telling the truth.

Take/maintain an interest in their interests.

Smile all you can.

Use humour to connect.

Remember when children are hurting, they can act most unlovable. Be there for them.

Acknowledge his feelings.

Avoid excessive lectures.

Share your own past struggles …..within reason.

Create a new tradition with them.

Do not ridicule them.

Praise effort.

Do what you say.

Share how you feel.

Catch them doing things right.

Hug them regularly.

Remember kids are always learning—and so are you.

Catch them doing something right.

Ask for their opinion.

Love them no matter what!

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“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

  

 

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~ Albert Einstein

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