I love my kids and I try to show them my love as often as possible. I tell them I love them on a regular basis.
But life gets busy and I know I need to be more intentional about showing them my love. I bet you feel that way sometimes, too.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily routines and busy life schedules, and the days turn into weeks, turn into months. Here are 10 easy ways to show your kids love today.
Pick an idea to try today, and then choose one to try in a day or two, and then another for the week after. Soon adding these little ways to show love into your daily routine will become habit.
10 Easy Ways to Show Your Kids Love Today
1.Be silly together.
Loosen up and be silly together!
Jumping on the bed? Why not?
I don’t know about you, but I tend to take myself way too seriously. Sometimes I need a reminder to lighten up and be silly with my kids! It really is the most fun when we laugh together. I cherish these times and hope my kids do, too.
2. Encourage your kids’ natural gifts.
While it’s meant to bring out the best in them, it’s easy to become a nag. For myself, I want to be a leader who plays from her strengths. Why not do the same for my kids, and encourage them to pursue areas where they have talent or find joy? These are gifts and abilities God has given them.
A picture of Bekah at 2 years old. A chef right from the start.
From Bekah’s photo album
Bekah today.
3. Serve God together.
My absolutely favorite times with my children are when we are serving, worshiping, and learning about God together, and I can think of no better way of showing my children my love for them than leading them by example to love and serve Jesus.
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:15
A servant event our church did at Nine Mile light rail station, handing out gift bags to travelers.
Delivering cookies to firemen at the fire station.
4. Tell stories about your history.
(I almost wrote tell “old” stories about yourself, but none of us are old, so I won’t use that word.)
Your life matters. Share stories about your childhood, your growing up years, lessons learned, or other parts of your life. Your kids might laugh, roll their eyes, or brush you off, but they will remember these tales and even tell them to their children someday as cherished parts of your family’s story.
The last time we were in St. Louis, I took my older teen daughters on a “history of Sara” tour. This house on Waterman Place, near the Seminary, was where Mike and I lived during our first year of marriage. We lived on the third floor in exchange for helping with upkeep of the house. We did our dishes in an old bathtub and used a toaster oven and hot plate for a kitchen.
More of the St. Louis Sara tour. This was my first teaching job. The church has been sold now, but I taught here when it was St. Stephen’s Lutheran church and school. It was a very small school. We had donated books. There was no teacher’s manual and I was teaching 8th grade math, NOT my forte. I went home each night and worked the problems along with the students.
5. Give big hugs.
There are never enough of those!
6. Listen.
This is an area where I so often fall short. I get easily distracted by the busy to-do list in front of me, but instead I need to stop and simply listen to my children as they talk to me about their day and what is important in their lives.
Listening is a powerful way to show your love.
7. Start traditions.
Start a few traditions, some meaningful and some just silly.
Traditions tie families together. It might be movies and popcorn on Friday nights, or going to the park for a picnic on the last day of school. Traditions around holidays and special events are great, too.
8. Give a small gift.
Next time you are at the store, pick up a very small inexpensive gift to surprise your kids. (I’ve also rolled up $1, wrapped it with a ribbon, and had them waiting for each child to buy a treat at lunch or at the check out counter on a shopping day.)
Who doesn’t love a surprise present once in awhile? I know I do! It really is the thought that counts. A little bit of special wrapping goes a long way toward making an inexpensive gift feel like a real treat.
A special treat waiting on the kitchen table for each of the kids in the morning.
9. Take care of you.
Taking care of yourself might sometimes seem like it pulls time away from your children, and I know finding balance is a continual challenge. Yet I have learned — the hard way — just how important it is to take care of myself.
My journey of losing 100 pounds has taught me that the best gift I can give my children is for me to have wellness of mind, body, and spirit. Then I am better able to serve them with a whole heart.
Mike and the kids with me at the finish line.
10. Say it!
Don’t forget the obvious! Say “I love you” and say it often. Write it, type it, text it, and speak it. You won’t overuse it. Here are some free printable lunch box notes you can use, too.
I love you, Bekah, Kiersten, Josiah, Paul, and Zack! Love, Mom
How will you show your kids love today?
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