Write a Love Letter to Your Child This Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is a time for parties and treats and most likely your child will exchange silly cards with their friends. But what if they got something really special this Valentine's Day? You can strengthen your bond with a child this Valentine's Day by courting her with a love letter - parent to child style. The beauty is that your message can be tailored to any age, from toddler to teen.

Everything Counts

When expressing affection to children, the littlest effort is well received. Even if you just jot something down on a store bought card if will mean a lot to your child. Even if you want to write something longer, it doesn't have to be a big deal. You don't have to agonize over the perfect words. Here are some prompts to get you started:

Who Is Your Child?

Tell your child about herself as she is now. Go into detail about her features and the clothes she wears, especially anything silly or unique. Think about character traits you notice right now and give examples. Maybe your daughter takes great care in tucking in her stuffed animal before bed. Notice that and tell her why that's wonderful

What Does Your Child Love?

Describe the things she likes to do, playmates, food preferences, subjects in school. Capture anything that is important to your child. You are validating these things for her now, and recording them for future reference.

Why Is Your Child Special?

Maybe you want to communicate elements of your faith, or even private jokes between you, or nicknames, or bedtime rituals. Remind your child of those little things that are uniquely theirs, or yours together. Write about loving her just because.

Try a Format

If all this writing still seems daunting, working within a format may be easier. One idea is to start with a sentence and then keep answering it in different ways. Examples of sentences are:

- I love that you... are kind, walk the dog, made me a Mommy.

- You are the most wonderful... hugger, crayon eater, hockey player.

- Once upon a time you... ate all your spinach, melted my heart, came home before curfew.

Often we assume that our children know how we feel without our having to express it, but why take chances? It can never hurt to tell someone, to show them, that you love them. It will mean a lot to children of all ages. Your child might keep a note like this forever. And a collection of letters over time can amount to a nice written record of your child's life.