Valentine’s Day is an occasion typically acknowledged by candy, cards, and gifts—gestures and offerings that hold little to no meaning for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Instead of falling into the trap of celebrating Cupid with pink and red doily crafts and store-bought trinkets, consider these five ways of expressing love to the babies and toddlers in your life!
- Reach out to a grandparent or elderly friend
Why not visit an elderly neighbor and share a bite to eat and some companionship? Showing love and kindness to an older family member or acquaintance exposes your little one to a unique and irreplaceable set of values, even if she doesn’t yet recognize the importance of the connection. Multigenerational relationships benefit all parties in ways that cannot be replicated. - Sing
The National Association for the Education of Young Children reminds us that when we sing to baby, he bonds with us and our voice. And a song for waking up, sleeping, and other routine activities helps babies and toddlers know what comes next in the day/night. Also, a song is a fun way to introduce vocabulary. Babies don’t care if we can carry a tune; to them, we’re the world’s most brilliant soloist! - Enjoy a walk outdoors
Babies and toddlers are fascinated by a world filled with new sights, sounds, and smells! Birds chirping, rain sprinkling, cars driving, dogs barking, food grilling, lawnmowers clipping … each of these activities opens the door for modeling language (“Do you see that orange kitten?”), sensory stimulation (“Does the breeze feel nice on your skin?”) and endless discoveries! - Read
It doesn’t matter what you read—just do it. Babies and toddlers respond well to chunky board books they can hold and chew. Bright colors and authentic photographs (as opposed to drawings) are particularly fascinating to young ones; but any form of the written and spoken word can be a powerful way to bond with baby. Reading to young children (even before birth) helps to facilitate attachment and connections, language acquisition, and many of the elemental foundations of communication. - PLAY!
Few gifts are as powerful and valuable as playing with a child. Play allows children to express themselves, practice physical balance, test their limits, be spontaneous … the list of benefits is seemingly endless. Adults who gift children with frequent opportunities to play set up children for a lifetime of success and happiness.
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