One of the most important things we can do as a parent is to make sure that our children hear words of affirmation every day. Our words are SO powerful. They can tear our children down or build them up.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” 

I want to be sure that my words speak life to my kids.

This is such an important part of being purposeful in our parenting. We need to purposefully speak words of affirmation that build up our children.

Here are 30 words of affirmation every child needs to hear:

1. If I could choose out of all the kids in the world, I would choose YOU.
2. I am so glad God put you in our family.
3. I love your sense of humor.
4. Being your mom is my favorite job.
5. I love you, and Jesus loves you.
6. Nothing can ever make me stop loving you.
7. I am so proud of you.
8. You are such a diligent worker.
9. That was a very wise choice.
10. I believe in you.
11. You make me laugh.
12. Your siblings are so blessed to have you.
13. I’m listening.
14. I love you to the moon and back.
15. That was really kind of you to do that.
16. The day you were born was one of the best days of my life.
17. You make me smile.
18. You have such great ideas!
19. There is no one like you.
20. Spending time with you is one of my favorite things to do.
21. I love to see how you are growing up.
22. Out of all the kids in the world, I got the best!
23. You are so special.
24. I think you are awesome!
25. I love being your mom!
26. I love seeing you smile.
27. I appreciate you so much.
28. Being around you is so fun.
29. I love hearing you laugh.
30. You fill my heart with joy.

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If you are looking for a great way to keep the kids entertained this winter, how about helping them with some fun Christmas crafts? Crafting is a great way to bond with your child, and it is a great way for them to express their creative side. Here are some fun winter & Christmas crafts to do with your children. They will look great when displayed around the Christmas holiday and all through winter, or they make great gifts!

5 Winter & Christmas Crafts To Do With Your Children:

Stained Glass Window Art

This craft is versatile, in that you can choose the shape of your frame, whether it be a simple rectangle frame, or a frame cut out in the shape of a Christmas tree or snowman.

For simplicity, here are directions for a rectangle.

• Layout a piece of peeled contact paper, sticky side up.
• Next, cut out 4 pieces of construction paper, even in width, and create your frame by placing your strips of paper in a rectangle shape.
• Now have your kiddo layer pieces of colorful tissue paper (previously cut into various sizes) inside the frame. It is good to overlap pieces, so there are not any gaps.
• Once done, place a second sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.
• Lastly, trim around the frame to complete your stained glass.

Puffy Snow Paint

Kids love painting, but why paint with ordinary paint? Make your own paint that is puffy, like snow!

Simply mix together equal parts of shaving cream, and chilled glue, in a bowl.

Sprinkle in some iridescent glitter for a sparkling effect, and then let your little one get to painting fun, snowy, winter scenes!

Snowflake Ornaments

Crafting in the winter would not be complete without making Christmas tree ornaments. These snowflake ornaments will be done in no time.

For this winter craft, simply paint three wooden craft sticks white. Then stack, and glue them on top of one another, spreading them out into the shape of a snowflake.

Apply glue, glitter and other fun embellishments like jewels, buttons, tulle or even white feathers.

Lastly, attach a thin ribbon for a hanger.

For a tutorial for creating fancy snowflakes with craft sticks, check out this post from The Best Ideas for Kids. 

Paper Garland

Cut out a variety of fun winter shapes, like mittens, candy canes, snowmen, snowflakes, and Christmas trees.

Be sure to punch a small hole through the top of each of the shapes.

Next let your child decorate each of them with markers, stickers, glitter, or buttons. Once they are all complete, simply string a piece are yarn or ribbon through them and find a place to hang your child’s garland.

Reindeer Antlers

Use brown construction paper to measurement size of your child’s head. You will be cutting out a thick band, as a base for your antlers.

Once you have cut and taped the band to the proper size, then trace two antlers on another sheet of brown paper, and don’t forget to draw two ears as well.

Then let your child practice their cutting skills as they cut out all four pieces.

Once finished, attach them to the band, and you will soon have your own little reindeer running around the house.

Which of these winter or Christmas crafts are you going to have your children start with?

Share a picture in the comments of the finished product!

Grab our FREE Names of Jesus Advent Printable Pack – your kids will LOVE going through it this Christmas with you!

How do you let your child know you love them? As parents, it’s easy to just assume that our kids know we love them. After all, we tell them we love them and take care of them right?

But how do you know if your child actually feels loved?

One of the biggest ways any child feels loved is by having effective communication with them. As adults, we ask that they look at us when we are talking and that they listen. We must do the same with them. Make eye contact and “listen with your heart”. Kids know when you are distracted and not paying attention. That makes anyone feel like they are not important.

It may be true that most of us desire to make our child feel loved and valued, but why is it important for a child to feel loved?

Studies have shown that children who do not feel loved and valued are more stressed, feel less secure (regardless of accomplishments), lack confidence, and can struggle with mental health and healthy relationships. 

We know that kids are special and a gift from God. Let’s be intentional to make our children feel loved and valued the way they should!

How to Make Your Child Feel Loved

Now that we’ve discovered one of the most important ways to make them feel loved and the importance of finding ways to show your child you love them, I want to help you get started! Here are 20 simple ways to make your child feel loved. None of them take very long, and most of them are free!

20 Ways To Make Your Child Feel Loved

1.  Take them on a special outing for no reason, and get them their favorite treat.
2.  Tell them often how much you love them
3. Kiss them goodnight, and spend a few minutes talking with them at bedtime.
4. Apologize and ask forgiveness when you have responded wrong.
5. Have a weekly family night.
6. Play games with them.
7. Brag about them to your spouse and their grandparents when you know they can hear you from the other room.
8. Teach them how to do something new.
9. Sit down with them and look at old pictures of them, or watch videos of them.
10. Write them notes and leave them under their bedroom door, or on their pillow.
11. Read to them daily.
12. Bake with them.
13. Make mealtimes fun by having them share about their day, and just having good conversation. Don’t be in a hurry to just get done – linger at the table with them and chat.
14. Hug them regularly.
15. Put your phone away when they are with you.
16. Make birthdays special by letting them choose their favorite meal for dinner.
17. Pray for them, and let them know that you do.
18. Listen to them, and hear their emotions, not just their words.
19. Show an interest in what they are interested in and excited about. Let them tell you about it, and teach you about it.
20. Occasionally when you are out, buy their favorite treat and bring it home for them.

I encourage you to choose one of these ideas to show them they are loved and valued and do it today!

What are some ways you would add to this list?

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Family is all about relationships and keeping a tight bond with the hearts of our children. However, if you aren’t careful, you can ruin the relationship with your child! Sometimes not only what you say, but the things you do are less than affirming to your kids or come across to them as a lack of acceptance. 

If you want to have or keep a good relationship with your children,  there are things that you should try not to do. I have been guilty of doing some of these things, and it made me aware of how it hurt the child that took the brunt of my actions, words, or reactions.

You may read something on this list, and think of a time when you did or said that, and start feeling guilty. That is NOT my intent! The purpose of this post is to remind us to be aware of how we respond to and treat our children to help prevent us from ruining our relationship with them.

None of us are perfect parents, and we all say and do things we wish we could take back. That doesn’t mean your relationship with your child is ruined. The key when you respond wrong is to apologize to your child and make things right.

7 WAYS TO RUIN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN

1. Embarrass them.

You shouldn’t correct or scold your child publicly, or even in front of their siblings. Take them aside privately and deal with it.

Public humiliation will bring anger, and often rebellion.

2. Avoid apologizing when you’ve been harsh, unkind, or unfair, etc.

I have tried to make it a habit every evening to think back over the day and try to remember if there was a situation where I responded wrong, that I needed to go and make right.

Your kids will love you and respect you for being willing to admit when you have responded wrong, and they will accept your apology and offer forgiveness.

Failure to do this, however, will lead to bitterness, and will gradually cause a separation in your relationship.

3. Always give advice when they share their thoughts or something that has happened.

Often our kids just want to share things with us; however, they don’t want to get a lecture in return. A HUGE part of communication is LISTENING!

4. Never show that you are pleased with them.

This is something I have to work on! Often the kids have done something good, but I wanted a little more, or for it to be done a little differently.

Rather than being thankful or encouraging, I responded with “Why didn’t you….?” or “You should have….”

This is a great way to discourage your kids, and eventually, they will quit trying to please you.

5. Be crabby and irritable.

No one wants to be around someone who always puts a damper on things. I have caught myself mumbling and grumbling at times when I come home from shopping. I’m tired, still need to make dinner, and then I find the kitchen wasn’t cleaned up while I was gone.

Can parents ruin a relationship with their kids?

Whoever happens to be around, then gets to listen to me complain, and be grumpy. Then I wonder why no one is around the next time I come home! A better response would be to do some character training.

Later, when you’re not so grumpy(!), explain to the kids how happy it would make you to come home to a clean kitchen after you’ve been out buying groceries.

Chances are, they were busy playing and never thought about that! Also, don’t have expectations if you haven’t given instructions before leaving.

6. Act like it’s a big bother when they ask you for help or need something.

Sometimes, well rather, most of the time, I’m just plain tired! Little needs or requests for help can seem like such a BIG thing to me.

The thing that has helped me see the importance of responding to requests for help in a cheerful way, is thinking of how I feel when my kids don’t want to cheerfully help me. (Hmm…wonder where they got that from!)  it kind of hurts when those who love you grumble when you ask them to help you with something.

7. Scold harshly when something is done in innocence that annoys you, or causes you some inconvenience.

This makes me think of the child visiting our home who spilled milk at breakfast. I calmly got a cloth and wiped it up. The child was apologetic and embarrassed, and I reassured him that it was just an accident, and those things happen.

His response: “My mom gets really MAD when I spill my  milk at home!”

There were times when my kids spilled things, and I was tired and irritated with the mess I had to clean up. I may not have “yelled” at them, but at the same time, I let it be known that I wasn’t happy about it. (More of that grumbling!)

This can make a child think we view them as an inconvenience – something I NEVER want my kids to think or feel!

Let’s make it our goal to avoid these mistakes, and work to make strong heart ties with our kids!  Show affection often. Tell them you love them, and affirm them often. 

Those are great ways to keep the relationship strong!

To help you make those heart ties, grab our free printable: 

20 Ways To Win Your Child’s Heart