Ten Ways to Say “I Love You” to Your Children

Last Updated August 2026 by Kodia Byers

These ideas work any time of year. Some were sent in by loyal readers over the years, thank you to everyone who has contributed! Please share your own ideas at the end of this post.

1. Give a Book with a Note Inside

Buy your child a book each year and write a special note inside. Sweet picture books that focus on love make great choices, but really, any favorite book works. The note is what makes it meaningful.

2. Start a Compliment Jar

Keep a jar in the kitchen and add a note to it whenever your child does something kind, brave, or thoughtful. Once a month (or whenever they need a boost), sit down together and read through them out loud. It’s a simple way to remind them how often you’re noticing the good stuff.

3. Plan a Dress-Up Night Out

How about a night to dress up and go out? If you have a son, it’s a perfect excuse for a date night with your buddy. If you have a daughter, she’ll enjoy a fancy night out too. Dinner, a museum visit, a coffee shop chat, or painting pottery together, the possibilities are endless.

4. Host a Family Fondue Night

Fondue night is a favorite for all members of the family. If you don’t have a fondue pot, ask around, you’ll likely find one to borrow easily. It’s a great way to spend a relaxed dinner together, talking and enjoying the meal instead of rushing through it.

5. Make an Alphabet Love Book

Make a flip book with each page featuring a letter of the alphabet. On each page, write something you love about your child that begins with that letter.

6. Give Small, Thoughtful Surprises

Give your children a little something that shows you were thinking of them, a favorite color item, a small treat, or use a fun cookie cutter on their meals every so often. Small surprises add up.

7. Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Kids love hearing stories about when they were “little,” even if that just means a year ago. Watch old videos together from birthdays, holidays, or vacations, or pull out baby books and flip through the pages together. If you have trouble remembering the little things (like most moms do), consider keeping a running memory jar throughout the year that you can look back on together.

8. Leave Notes in Their Lunchbox

Surprise your children with notes in their lunchbox every so often. Write your own notes and include a doodle that will make them smile, no fancy supplies required.

9. Create a Special Breakfast Tradition

Make a special breakfast tradition for a holiday or just because, crepes with strawberries and whipped cream, a side of bacon, served on your best dishes. Little traditions like this become treasured memories over time.

10. Hide a “Just Because” Coin

Try hiding a small coin or token somewhere in the house for a loved one to find, sometimes called a “Shmily” coin (short for “See how much I love you”). It could take hours or months before it’s found. The longer it takes, the more fun the surprise. Once found, hide it in a new spot and let the game continue.

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