14 Ways to Show Love for Your Child This Valentine's Day and Every Day

Valentine’s Day  is right around the corner and why not use this time to give your children a little extra love.  The great thing about these tips is they don’t just apply to Valentine's Day but you can use them all year round.

1. Use plenty of positive words with your child.  
2. Be available to listen to your child when he/she want to talk with you even if it’s an inconvenient time. 
3. Make an extra effort to set a good example at home and in public. Use words like "I'm sorry," "please," and "thank you." 
4. When your child is angry, argumentative or in a bad mood, give him a hug, cuddle, pat, secret sign or other gesture of affection he favors and then talk with him about it when he’s feeling better. 
5. Parents should institute both rewards and restrictions many years before adolescence to help prevent trouble during the teenage years. Allowing children of any age to constantly break important rules without being disciplined only encourages more rule violations. 
6. Make plans to spend time alone with your young child or teen doing something he or she enjoys. Send a Valentine’s Day card to your older child or teen. Make Valentine’s Day cards together with your preschool or younger school age child. 
7. Mark family game nights on your calendar so the entire family can be together. Put a different family member's name under each date, and have that person choose which game will be played that evening. 

Stay tuned next week for 7 more ways to show love for your child this Valentine's Day and every day. 

Source: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/14-Ways-to-Show-Love-for-Your-Child-This-Valentine%27s-Day.aspx