Slides from 2011 Preparing Your Child for Success seminar hosted by The Bear Creek School annually in Redmond, WA. Slides are excerpts from the presentation "The Five Love Languages of Children" by Jenn McDonough, Lower School Division Head at The Bear Creek School.

2. COMMUNICATING LOVE IS FOUNDATIONAL
• Keep a child’s “emotional tank” full
• Use all five love languages with each
child – one primary language will
“speak” the loudest to your child
• The child’s behavior often tells a parent
what love language the child is needing

3. PHYSICAL TOUCH
• Father / Daughter story
• Hug, kiss, pat on the back, high five
• Holding a child while reading a story
• When greeting or saying good-bye to your child, gather them in
your arms and hold them. Kneel down for small children.
• When your child is sick or hurt, spend extra time cuddling and
holding them.
• Modeling physical touch
• Continue as child gets older
• Practice

4. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
• Kellie’s story
• Words of praise
• For something over which the child has a degree of control
• Genuine
• Sticky notes
• Words of encouragement
• To instill courage
• Story of Mark
• Specifics
• Words of guidance
• Every child is guided by someone
• Positive approach

5. QUALITY TIME
• Charlie story
• The most important factor in quality time is not the event, but
being together.
• Time with each child
• Planning quality time
• Stop what you are doing and make eye contact
• Schedule specific date times
• Include children in day to day activities: laundry, dinner
preparation, etc.
• George story

6. GIFTS
• Kate story
• Katherine story
• Grace – undeserved gift
• Little to do with size and cost
• Pitfalls
• Meaningful
• Modeling
• Christmas story

7. ACTS OF SERVICE
• Underwear drawer
• Lunches packed
• Breakfast ready
• Dad and Mom up before kids
• “I know you love me, but sometimes I don’t feel it.”
• Role Models

8. WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?
• Observe How Your Child Expresses Love to You
• Observe How Your Child Expresses Love to Others
• Listen to What Your Child Requests Most Often
• Notice What Your Child Most Frequently Complains About
• Give Your Child a Choice Between Two Options
• Take the test!

9. KEEP ALL THE TANKS FULL!
• Physical Touch
• Words of Affirmation
• Quality Time
• Gifts
• Acts of Service