10 Ways to Allow your KIDS to Feel LOVED and HEARD
Posted on February 08, 2022 by Allison Hartman, One of Thousands of Family Coaches on Noomii.
Those little humans you are raising need to be unconditionally loved and heard. Get creative and have fun with these 10 ways to show your love!
To a small child there is nothing worse than feeling invisible and unloved. Know that it does not take much for a child to feel slighted or ignored. It also doesn’t take much effort and energy on your part to make them feel loved and heard.
Parents often get in a rut of feeling as if they need to perform grand gestures, give constant treats, or say “Yes” to every request their child makes in order for them to feel loved. This could not be farther from the truth. Refrain from getting in this habit early on or else you may find that your children expect this from you.
Check out my easy and free tips below on making your child feel loved and heard:
1. Every once in a while, surprise them with a warm blanket that’s been in the dryer right before bedtime. They will feel all warm and cozy. Tuck them in like a burrito and kiss them goodnight.
2. When your child gives you anything they made (no matter what it is) praise their creativity and then take a selfie with it like you are the proudest person in the world. Then take a picture of them with it too. Tell them while they are standing there that you are going to send it to Grandma, Daddy, Aunt B, or whoever they find “important.”
3. Next time you go to a drive-thru to order food, tell your kiddo they can choose your meal. This will be hilarious for your child, and they will feel like you trust them. You must follow through with their order – if you are afraid it will be the whole menu or something super weird, give them 5 choices to choose from, but make sure you pick something they know you would normally never order.
4. When they are within earshot of you, praise them to someone else as if you didn’t know they could hear you. Speak sincerely about how proud you are of something specific they did or a choice they made.
5. Plan a day every few months that is dedicated just to spending some quality with your munchkin. Make it a big deal! Write them an invitation for the day, talk about it days ahead of time about how much you are looking forward to it. Then, when the day comes, be fully present with your kiddo – do what they want to do and just have fun! If you have multiple children, still try to do something like this with them separately if possible – even if it is just an hour to yourselves playing at the park.
6. Ask your child advice about something – anything. Be sincere in wanting their opinion or advice. For example, if you are cooking dinner have them do a taste test and ask if it “needs anything or is good to go.” If they tell you to add something, add it and say, “oh that’s exactly what it needed, thank you!”
7. Eat your meals as a family as often as possible, without screens or distractions. Let everyone talk about their day or think of silly questions to ask each other. Talk about dreams they’ve had or goals they want to achieve. Avoid complaining and gossiping at all costs! If you are not feeling that talkative one evening, put on some light music or an audio book to keep a positive mood.
8. Let them pick something out about your appearance one day for work or going out (clothing, accessories, makeup, hairstyle). Whatever they pick – follow through. Talk about how you feel like a king/queen now that you are wearing that. Pose in the mirror like a boss!
9. Give them chores. Yep – bet you didn’t expect this one on the list. Kids crave structure and consistency. They also want to be helpful and contribute. Give them a chore daily, even if it is a small task like feeding the dog. Extra points if they see you doing your chores at the same time they are doing theirs.
10. Respect their privacy! This is a huge one and can be hard to navigate, especially as little ones turn into teenagers. Give them space to feel their feelings without judgment. Ask permission before posting on social media about them or their friends.
I am certain you can think of many more fun, free, and creative ideas that your kid will love. You know them best so use that knowledge and design more ways to make them feel loved and heard. As always, never forget how important you are in the eyes of your child. Parenting is truly a noble “profession!”
