In this world, there is no greater, purer and more special love than that which we parents feel for our children and that which our children feel for us.
While our children are young, it is customary for us parents to spoil them with affectionate gestures that remind them how much we love them. Kisses, tickles, hugs, smiles are never missing from our daily lives. However, as little ones grow up and enter new stages of life, this strong bond may loosen up.
Why you need to tell your children every day that you love them
Besides the fact that the magical words “I love you” foster a closer and more positive bond with children, they have multiple other important benefits. Here are some of them:
You can reaffirm your love for your children.
Saying “I love you” is a very direct way to express your emotions, which helps educate children about handling emotions properly and not being afraid to express them.
Saying “I love you” helps to bridge the gap that may appear at some point between us and our children. It happens, for example, when we are having a bad day and easily lose our temper; when our children are particularly irritable and we find it hard to connect with their needs; when we have had a fight with them; etc. In these delicate and sensitive situations, saying and hearing “I love you” will allow us to forget the differences that separate us and reconnect.
In line with the above, hearing “I love you” will trigger an emotional impact capable of breaking any kind of blockage and encouraging reconciliation. Thus, the child or teenager who often hears these magic words will feel more inclined to communicate with their parents, to trust, to listen, to get involved, to look for solutions.
Saying “I love you” before going to bed is a wonderful way to end the day and get our children to sleep well until the next morning. These words will help you relax, forget the worries of the day and fall asleep peacefully.
All these benefits can be summed up in one simple sentence: children and teenagers who grow up knowing that they are loved every day by their parents are happier, more confident and have higher self-esteem.
Words must be matched by actions
Telling your child every day that you love them is not enough. “I love you” must not be just expressed in words, but must be accompanied by other gestures of love. Kisses and hugs, positive and respectful communication, active listening, loyalty and trust are equally important.
In short, children need to feel loved, especially when they believe that they don’t deserve it or when they are struggling with challenges of the adolescence. And this love needs to be demonstrated every day through our gestures, and also reinforced through words.