5 Tips to Show Love to a Child in Your Life

February is the month of love; a term our society uses to describe everything from our fascination with pizza to one’s deep affection for another individual. Two very different ends of the spectrum. Think about this from a child or teen’s perspective who has seen “love” in the media, heard it expressed among peers, but yet may never have heard “I love you” from a caregiver- someone who is supposed to show the greatest care and attention to a child. This would be very confusing. Their emotional development has been often marked by hurt, grief, and longing. Pathway children typically do not know how to express love or affection in conventional ways, let alone receive love in a healthy relationship.

Children who have experienced trauma may test just how far they can push, but remember this is their cry for someone who will love them no matter what. Be the game changers, the ones who show children and teens they are worthy of care and attention.

Here are five ways you can show love and care to a child in your life:

• Verbal Affirmation: words of encouragement, praise, and affirmation to build the child’s self-esteem and sense of worth. 
• Time Together: Spend time doing things a child in your life enjoys. Playing games, reading books, or simply talking and listening to them helps strengthen the bond between caregiver and child.
• Consistency and Predictability: Providing a stable and predictable environment where the child knows what to expect, feels safe, and can trust that their caregiver will be there for them consistently.
• Empathy and Understanding: Showing empathy and understanding towards a child’s emotions and experiences, validating their feelings, and offering support and guidance in coping with challenges.
• Active Listening: Listening attentively to the child’s thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment, and responding with empathy and support, fostering open communication and trust.

These examples illustrate how love can be expressed helping to build trust and secure attachments between caregivers and children.

Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent

Want to make a difference in the lives of children from hard places?

The first step is to reach out!

We walk you through all the basic foster care requirements and necessary background checks to be a foster parent. You can inquire about fostering with Pathway and our Recruitment Manager will reach out.