Why Love Is the Most Important Factor in Raising Great Kids
(and 8 Everyday Ways to Infuse It Into Your Parenting)
As parents, we push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion (and often, it seems, insanity) in our quest to raise “super kids.” And of course, we do it all because we love them. But being a wise mom or grandma does not mean you have to constantly be exhausted, according to Marianna S. Klebanov, JD.
“We intend to demonstrate our love for our children by sending them to great schools, shuttling them back and forth to enriching extracurricular activities, and providing them with the latest gadgets and most stylish clothes,” says Marianna, coauthor along with Adam D. Travis of “The Critical Role of Parenting in Human Development” (Routledge, 2014). “And yes, doing and providing the best we can for our kids is both admirable and extremely important. But in the midst of all the hectic hustle and bustle, we often forget to supplement these efforts by showing and telling our children that we love them in simple, straightforward ways.”
Clear and abundant expressions of love are necessary for children’s optimal development — not just emotional, but psychological and physical as well, reminds Marianna. Love is the foundation for all of the qualities we hope to nurture in our kids: self-confidence, health, intelligence, creativity, happiness, the ability to form positive relationships, and much more.
“Your love is the single most important ingredient in your youngsters’ well-being and success,” she confirms.
Here, Marianna shares eight simple things you can do to demonstrate your love for your children:
Tell your children you love them.
Say the words as often as possible. Especially if your
children are young, they may not connect your super-parent actions with
loving intentions (and may, in fact, misinterpret your motivation as
anger or criticism).
Laugh together.
As a parent you can’t always be your child’s best friend,
but you can and should have fun together on a regular basis. “Taking a
break to tell jokes, watch a funny movie, or have a tickle fight
demonstrates to your child that you enjoy spending time with him,”
Marianna comments. “Plus, it’s a valuable break for both of you!”
Be generous with compliments.
Parental criticism comes from a good place, but if it’s
not significantly outweighed by compliments, it can have an unintended
negative effect on children’s confidence and self-esteem. “Make it your
goal to catch your kids doing things right,” Marianna suggests.
“Compliment them genuinely to encourage these positive behaviors — and
watch them light up because of your praise. Remember that compliments
create positive connections in your child’s mind because they link good
behavior with happiness, unlike criticism, which trains them to behave
out of fear.”
Prioritize positive time together.
With a limited amount of hours in each day, it can be
easy to use each chunk of time we spend with our kids to check something
off of the to-do list. For example: “We have only 30 minutes, so let’s
focus on cleaning your room/practicing your violin/doing your chores.”
“When was the last time you spent positive time with your kids, without
trying to accomplish something specific?” Marianna asks. “If you aren’t
sure where to begin, start by eating a meal together at the table
instead of in the car or in front of the TV. Better yet, cook it
together, too.”
Show affection as often as possible.
When parents are affectionate, it positively affects
children’s mental health, as well as their social and emotional
development. “Don’t wait for ‘expected’ times like dropping your child
off at school or putting her to bed to show affection,” Marianna
suggests. “Stop to give her a hug and a kiss while she’s doing homework.
Slip an ‘I love you’ note into her lunchbox.”
Talk to your kids — and really listen to what they say.
Encourage your children to open up to you by asking them
for their thoughts and opinions. Listen and respond non-judgmentally to
what they tell you. “Validating your children’s worth and individuality
by giving them your undivided attention and respect is a powerful way to
show your love,” Marianna states.
Give them the responsibilities and freedoms they’ve earned.
You may want your kids to stay little forever, but
they’re growing physically, emotionally, and psychologically every day.
Even if it’s bittersweet for you, give them privileges and
responsibilities that are appropriate for their ages and maturity
levels. “That said, make sure you’re always there for them when they
need you,” Marianna notes. “Even older children who think they want
nothing more than to be independent need a soft place to land at the end
of a difficult day.”
Encourage their talents and endeavors.
Don’t forget that your kids are unique human beings with
their own interests, abilities, and strengths — many of which may differ
from yours! “Help your kids develop their interests and compliment them
frequently for their efforts and successes,” Marianna recommends. “Care
about and support your kids’ friendships, too, and their happiness in
general. Don’t make unnecessary demands that hold them back.”
“If these recommendations seem simple, well, that’s the
point!” Marianna concludes. “At the end of the day, there is no
substitute for straightforward words and actions that let your children
know how much you love and care for them.”