Parenting Tip: Love Languages
Are you speaking your child’s Love Language? There are five main ways we can show and receive love: Giving Gifts, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical touch and Acts of Service. To no surprise, God is fluent in each love language and is impeccable at loving us in the ways we need it the most. God IS love. He loves his children well. We tend to have favorite ways to speak love and may need to be aware of different ways we can love others. It is easier to love someone the same way you want to be loved. Therefore, we need to take a minute and think about how others might need to receive love differently than how we want to receive love. As parents, we can think through how our children might feel most loved. Then, try out the different types of love languages.
Could it be when they receive a gift and realize that someone went through the effort and time to give them something special – that fills their love tank? Could it be they feel most loved when you sit with them without distractions and spend quality time together? Could it be they feel amazing after hearing words affirming who they are and what they mean to you? Could it be that they feel so special and loved when they are snuggled or hugged? Could it be that they feel so thankful and cared for when you clean something for them or serve them in some way? God made us with different personalities and preferences. He made our kids unique, sometimes with similarities to us and sometimes not.
Parents, watch your kids' reactions when you offer to love them through one of the five different love languages. I believe you are able to tell which one speaks to your child more. Notice their face after you try a specific love language with them. Look to see if they physically react with excitement or quickly desire a hug. Once you know their favorite, be intentional about loving them that way every week. If their love language is different than yours, it will take a little more effort. When you speak your child’s primary love language, it will make a difference, I promise.
Feeling loved is a big deal. Kids having their love tanks full is foundational to who they are and who God is making them to be.