Show-and-Tell in various forms is a popular feature of many
preschool classrooms. When you watch
children making their presentation you understand the popularity of
show-and-tell. Kids love to talk about
their interests and passions but they love to share those interests and
passions even more.
Kids are all about show. As a parent you know this. We have
to demonstrate and lead our children by the hand through every lesson--both big
and small.
So why do we so often think it is enough to simply tell our
children that we love them? It isn't
enough. Love is the biggest
show-and-tell of them all and you need to make it a part of your everyday life.
Children do as we do, not as we say, and down the road do we
really want our children simply mouthing the word: "I love you" to us
as they rush out the door? Or do we want them to show us in many ways?
This is why it is crucial to show your child that you love
him.
Hugs and kisses are good. So are tickles and games. My son
and I have little bedtime rituals that allow us to show our love for each
other. We snuggle for bedtime stories and talk about the day. Then we come up
with ridiculous ways to count how much we love each other, for example 12,567
heffalumps was one recent description. Then we butterfly kiss, Eskimo kiss, and
finally squish and smooch (our code words for hugs and kisses).
However these are not the only ways that I demonstrate my
love for my son.
When I was growing up I never doubted that my parents loved
me. They made very clear that my brother and I were a top priority for them.
They sacrificed professionally and personally to give us time together as a
family. My father coached; my parents chaperoned, volunteered, and chauffeured;
and my parents attended every school function, play, concert, and game.
More than that though my parents took an interest in us as
people and would play games or ride bikes. They would simply spend time with us
doing the things that we liked doing.
It really isn't just about time. After all, both my parents
worked and were active in the community. My mother was the only working mother
in the neighborhood when I was a child.
It is a question of priorities. YOU know that your child is
your top priority, but what do your actions tell your child? If repeatedly your
actions put something or someone else before your child then they are going to
get that message loud and clear no matter what is in your heart.
Most days my husband leaves for work before our son is even
awake, but when he comes home in the evening the first thing he does is scoop
Noah up for a tickle and hug. Sometimes Noah even makes his father chase him
because he knows that his father will. Noah knows that he is a priority for his
father and he trusts that love.
So how can you show your child he is a priority? How can you
demonstrate your love for your child? Find some way every day to show as well
as tell your child of your love. Some ways we do this in our home:
~ Skip dinner preparations and make a picnic
together to eat at the location of the child's choice. Noah's favorite is up in
his tower.
~ Clicking off the TV to lay on the floor and
layout a train track. Coming up with new designs can actually be pretty
relaxing for the parent after a stressful day!
~ Going for a walk and just talking about
whatever comes up. This is one of Noah's favorites!
~ Setting down my own book to read Noah one of
his.
~ Putting off kitchen cleanup to go outside
and play soccer or tag.
Notice what all these actions have in common? They don't
involve money, just your time and attention. That is the gift your child values
above all else. Sure they'd like that latest toy and gadget they see advertised
on TV, but they love you and long after that toy is abandoned in the back of
their closet they will still choose to spend time with you.
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