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Show Love — One way to communicate your unconditional love to your child is through physical touch. This goes beyond the usual hugs and kisses. Young children may enjoy sitting in your lap while reading a book, and older kids may love fist bumps and high fives. A simple pat on the back in passing can also be a quick and easy way for parents to show love and communicate warmth to kids.

Meaningful Words — “I love you” may seem obvious here. But many kids need words beyond “I love you” to feel loved. Love can be too abstract of a word for kids to truly understand. One way to communicate your love using words is through praise. Kids love being praised for their efforts! Catch your child being good, and be specific with your praise. Let your child know exactly what they’re doing well, and they’ll feel your appreciation and warmth (and continue to do more of it!).

Spending Time together — These days, you may already be spending a LOT of time with your kids. When it comes to quality time, this tip means exactly that: quality over quantity. In order for time spent with your child to communicate love and build that solid foundation, it’s important for kids to notice their parents being 100% present and attentive. Spending even a short amount of special time giving your child your full, undivided attention is more meaningful and goes a much longer way than spending time throughout the day while your mind is on other things.