Speaking Our Kids' Love Languages with Seasonal Bingo

Helping Our Kids Feel Our Love

It's not a question of whether our kids are loved, but do they feel our love? In the same way we have a love language, our kids do too. As we are intentional to speak their love language, we can ensure their "love tank" is full and they grow emotionally healthy.

I found the book, Family Time: Simple Ways to Speak the 5 Love Languages to Your Kids, by Gary Chapman and Jen Mickelborough encouraging and engaging. But, I knew life would get busy and I'd forget to flip through these pages for key insight when various activities arose. I also knew I want to be intentional to make time for these simple but thoughtful and playful activities, so I created seasonal Bingo cards to help 'Dubs and I. Sharing these free downloads for your family to enjoy! I hope you love these great resources as much as we do:

Winter BINGO.pdf

Download PDF • 2.19MB

Spring BINGO.pdf

Download PDF • 2.04MB

Summer BINGO.pdf

Download PDF • 2.01MB

Autumn BINGO.pdf

Download PDF • 2.34MB

The Bingo card is for you as the parent (or grandparent or guardian). Typically, bingo is for kids, but your kids never have to see it. With the start of each season, pull out the appropriate Bingo card. I've included notes in each of the attachments for how practice speaking your child's love language in each activity, based on Chapman and Mickelborough's sugguestions. For example:

Real quick, let's go over the love language definitions according to the Love Language founder himself, Gary Chapman:

• Physical Touch - affirming touch says "I love you" to this child. When the child is little, parents hold and cuddle their baby. As the child gets older, they hold them on their laps. Appropriate hugs, kisses, and high fives all communicate love.

• Words of Affirmation - using words to express appreciation. "You did a great job cleaning your room." "One of the things I appreciate about you is..." "Your hair looks beautiful." The words may focus on the child's appearance, personality trait, or behavior.

• Quality Time - giving the child your undivided attention. Depending on the age and interest of the child, this may be playing games together, discussing a book or movie, or taking a walk together. The important thing is that they have your full attention. If you are talking with the child and your phone rings, let it go to voice mail, thus demonstrating that the child is more important than anyone on the phone.

• Receiving Gifts - a tangible token that you were thinking about them. If you go on a business trip, or to the grocery store, bring them a surprise. The gifts need not be expensive. It's the thought that counts. If Receiving Gifts is their primary love language, then gifts speak loudly of your love.

• Acts of Service - doing something for the child that you know they would like for you to do. Helping with homework, mending a doll dress, fixing their bicycle, or playing basketball in the backyard all speak love to the child whose love language is Acts of Service. The old saying "Actions speak louder than words" is true for this child.

Three questions will help you discover the child's primary love language:

1. How does the child normally relate to you and other family members? Typically, the child will speak their own love language to others.

2. What does the child complain about? The complaint reveals the love language.

3. What request does the child make most often? They are requesting what would make them feel loved.

You can also visit 5lovelanguages.com and take the love languages quiz for kids -- there's one for eight-year-olds and younger and one for nine- to twelve-year-olds.

Our strength to love others the way Christ has loved us comes as we spend time in God's Word and open our hearts to the love He has personally for each of us. Our joy grows as we experience closeness and connectedness in our families as we are intentional to learn and practice speaking their love language. Our peace grows as we follow Christ's example, giving of our time honoring another. We experience the rest Christ has for us as we cherish the gift of family together.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.