“I love you,” are three words all children need to hear often from their parents. Do you want those words to have real meaning to your child? Do you want them to connect one heart to another? Do you want to use them to develop a level of intimacy in your family that communicates your heartfelt affection for your children? If so, consider strengthening I love you with the following suggestions.

1. Use Eye Contact. Give your children your eyes when you say, “I love you.” Souls touch when meaningful eye contact is made during moments of intimacy. Touch with your eyes. It’s a way of connecting that helps you bond.

2. Touch. A pat on the back, a hug, or a high-five will add meaning to verbal expressions of love. So will a slight squeeze of the shoulder or a kiss. Take your child’s hand in yours when you say, “I love you,” and add a tactile component to your words.

3. Use names. The sweetest sound in any language is the sound of your own name. Names get our attention, build connectedness and help us connect. Sadly, some children only hear there own names when they are in trouble. (“William, you better get in here!”) Add your child’s name to your expression of love. “I love you, Carlos,” or “Tadahito, I really love you.” Watch their reactions. Their facial expressions will encourage you to continue the practice of adding your child’s name to, “I love you.”

4. Use the words son and daughter. These two words can add intense intimacy to your verbal expressions of love. “I love you, son,” or “I love you, daughter,” will create an emotion filled statement that will invite an equally emotional response. Monitor your personal comfort level as you use these two important words. Notice your feelings as you say them as well as the reaction you get from your children.

5. Add non-verbal signals to your spoken message. Smile, wink, and add pleasant facial expressions to your words. Make sure the message on your face is congruent with the one coming out of your mouth.

6. Do not use the word when as part of your vocal communication of love. “I love you when you smile like that,” or “When you choose that happy mood, I love you,” sends a message to your children that your love is conditional. Children often near, “I only love you when….” To love unconditionally, say “I love you,” without any condition attached.

7. Remove the word but from your description of love. “I love you, but….” Is usually followed by a concern, problem, or frustration. When we express our love along with a concern we send a mixed message. When we do this children get confused and conclude that the love part is a manipulation intended to soften them up before the real message is delivered.

8. Add because you are loveable to your manner of expressing love. “I love you because you are loveable,” is an important concept to help children appreciate. It helps them understand that your love is attached to nothing. It simply is. Be careful not to add any other words after because. “I love you because you are thoughtful,” adds a condition that communicates conditional love. The only acceptable phrase to use with because is because you are loveable.

9. Say “I love you” at unexpected times. Children often hear our expressions of love at familiar times. We typically say “I love you” when we are going out the door on our way to work. We say it when we end a phone conversation. “I love you” is often the last communication our children hear as we tuck them into bed at night. “I love you” at those times is often expected and certainly anticipated. To heighten the impact of these three valuable words, use them at unexpected times. Say them in the middle of a meal, as you are driving down the road in your car, or as you stand at the kitchen sink doing dishes together.

Some children are auditory and near to hear the words, “I love you.” Others are tactile and need to be touched to feel loved. Still others are visual and need to see love on your face and in your actions. Why not give your children all three variations when you communicate your love?

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