Did you know that your child “hears” love best from you in different ways? We are all designed by God to receive and give love differently. By “speaking” your child’s love language, your child will feel even more loved by you and by God.
What Are Love Languages?
Dr. Gary Chapman has written many books to help you understand the five main love languages. He breaks them down this way:
- Quality Time and Conversation
- Touch
- Words of Affirmation
- Gifts
- Acts of Service
These are different ways we both express and receive love to others. We all need each one of these languages. Yet we are each wired to feel most loved by one or two main ones.
Click to Tweet: What are your child’s love language, and why does this matter? Learn more from Lee Ann Mancini of Raising Christian Kids. #lovelanguage #parenting #christianparent
How Do I Learn My Child’s Language?
Pay attention to when your child feels happiest and most content. That’s how you’ll learn your child’s love language over time.
Do they enjoy hugs and kisses, receiving gifts, or hearing words of praise most? In order, that would be touch, gifts, and words of affirmation as your child’s primary languages.
Do they express appreciation when you do things for them? Your child may receive love best through acts of service.
Does your child enjoy simply spending time with you? If so, quality time may be your child’s primary love language.
Another clue is how your child expresses his or her love to you. People tend to express love toward others in the love language they most wish to receive themselves. Your child’s patterns of behavior toward you will give insight.
Take time to study how your child responds to a variety of actions and words expressed among the five languages. Then, once you notice the main one, express your love to your child in that language as frequently as possible.
Click to Tweet: Why Your Child’s Love Language Matters: Tips for how to love your child in the way he or she needs it most. #encouragement #parentingtips #christianliving
Why Your Child’s Love Language Matters
We know you’re reading this post because you love your child. But wouldn’t you be blessed to know that your child feels your love as deeply as you intend? That’s where the blessing of love languages comes in.
God meets you in your primary love language. Depending on how you are wired, you likely feel most loved by God in one of the languages.
Maybe you enjoy spending quiet time with him. Perhaps you feel closest to God when you are hugged by your brothers and sisters in Christ. You may feel closest to God when you read affirming scriptures, count your blessings, or recount what God has done for you.
More often than not, God speaks love to you through people. We often serve one another as the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus. In this way, you can show not only your own love to your child, but God’s love as well.
Inspired to learn more about love languages? Check out the free quizzes available through Dr. Chapman’s site.
Want more practical tips for expressing love to your child in creative ways? Check out this episode of Raising Christian Kids.
May your family be blessed through this expanded knowledge of the way God wires us to give and receive love. May you learn how to minister to your child’s needs by discovering the best language for your child to receive love from God through you!