I always encourage building self-love and giving love to others. Kids need to feel loved, just as adults do, if not more. Simple loving gestures  can make a big difference in how they feel about themselves. I’m a huggy kind of girl so I always give hugs and encourage others to give them freely. Yesterday Matt
Casper, addressed how empowered adults empower our children. Today he explains the importance of loving your kids unconditionally. Kids thrive on love. So do we adults so use the lesson below on adults as well!

“One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love.” –Socrates

Conditional love for a child means that a child feels they must say or do certain things in order to earn love from caregivers. Unconditional love towards a child does not require the child to be anything except who they are. 

As adults, it’s normal to have a fantasy of how you would like children to be–that they may enjoy the things that YOU would like them to enjoy and succeed at the things that YOU would like them to accomplish.  Give up that fantasy.  A child might not be the star athlete that you were, or may have no interest in what you are interested in at all. Allow children to find their own path and show them that you love them no matter what they may do or where life may take them.

Even the simplest expressions of love can have a tremendous impact on a child.

Surprise your children with acts of warmth and affection. An unexpected hug can do wonders for a child’s self-esteem. Leave them a note saying “Have a great day.  I’m proud of you”, and tell them you love them before they go to sleep. Don’t make a child feel as if they must earn your love.  They are a child, and that is enough. You are you, and that is enough as well.    

 Matt
Casper, MFT, is a
licensed psychotherapist with a private practice in Los Angeles,
California. He’s also an author of the award-winning Emotes! book series. This collection
of picture books and comics helps children learn how to identify, accept
and express their emotions by following a cast of modern anime-style
characters each with their own emotional superpower. Check out this fabulous Emotes! book series that teach kids some wonderful lessons!

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