Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to teach children important values, including how to be givers of encouragement. I want my children to see the best in others and use their words to bless and build up, not tear down. (Especially with their siblings!)
In this blog post I am sharing some ideas about encouragement I practice in my home, and how I continually work to develop this practice. This includes modeling encouragement for kids, giving words of affirmation, training children in encouragement, memorizing Scripture as a family, and blessing others with encouragement.
Because Valentine’s Day is a great occasion to practice sharing encouragement in your own home and community, I created the Valentine’s Day Affirmation Cards, which are detailed below.
In this blog post:
- How to model encouragement for kids
- Valentine’s Day Affirmation Cards [Free Printable PDF Download]
- Valentine’s Day unit study from Treehouse Schoolhouse
How to model encouragement for kids
Words carry so much weight, positively or negatively.
But here’s the first question: Are WE encouragers? Do we use our words to build up our spouses, children, and friends?
Maybe we don’t tear down, but are we intentional to build up those around us with our words? Before I get into how to practically teach and train our children to be encouragers, let’s look at ourselves first. After all, our children will model what they see and hear in our homes and in our relationships more than what we tell them to do with our words.
How to practice giving words of affirmation with children
The words spoken over our children are what they tend to believe about themselves. I try to make it a habit to think about what I love about my children and speak it out on a regular basis. My biggest advice is to be specific and to do it often, even if it feels uncomfortable or awkward. The more you do it, the more normal it will feel. This is true for your spouse and friendships as well.
Here are some questions to sit and think about to fuel your words of affirmation for your children. Try sitting with a journal and answering these questions about each child. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, you could use this as an opportunity to write your child a love letter including some of these words of encouragement.
- What are some of your favorite attributes of your child? (Helpful, kind, patient, etc.)
- How have you seen God working in their life? What habits or character traits do you see improving?
- How have you seen your child grow recently? Have they been more patient or worked hard to learn a new skill?
- How has your or your family’s life been better with your child in it?
- What are you praying about lately for your child?
- What makes your child unique? (Do they tell really good jokes? Have they never met a stranger? Are they wise beyond their years?)
How to train children in encouragement
Modeling words of affirmation is a very important first step, but we also need to intentionally train our children how to practice Biblical encouragement in their relationships. Some children are natural encouragers, and some need help practicing this skill. While this important from a spiritual standpoint, encouragement also creates deep family and friendship connections and creates positive and meaningful interactions between siblings and friends. When we call out the unique way God made others and how they are becoming more like Jesus in their character, we are helping nurture their spiritual growth and their callings.
Teaching our children this kingdom principle allows them to be a part of a friend or family member’s faith story. It also pleases God to encourage others because He made them and loves them. When we speak out how God sees them, we are being God’s words to our friends.
Memorizing Scripture as a family
One effective way to get Biblical principles and truths in our children’s hearts is to memorize Scripture. It would be fun to memorize one or all of these verses together about building others up with words. Here are some Bible verses I love for children to have on their hearts.
- “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24
- “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” – Proverbs 16:24
- “Encourage one another, and build each other up.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
How to bless others with encouragement
One idea this Valentine’s Day is to sit down with your children and help them brainstorm how their friends bless their lives. Rather than just giving out store-bought cards that their friends will throw away, try giving them words of affirmation to plant seeds of love and growth in their hearts. Talk with them about what it feels like to receive positive words of encouragement and how we can give to others by saying kind words about them.
Valentine’s Day Affirmation Cards [Free Download]
We made these sweet and simple Valentine’s Day Affirmation Cards to share with your family.
Using card stock, make sure to print these Valentine’s cards double-sided! Have your children cut them out and follow the prompts to write encouraging messages! For younger kids, they can tell you how to fill out the card and you can write it out for them.
Example:
Dear friends name,
I’m thankful for your friendship because you show me kindness when you play with me. You make the world a better place because you are so funny!
Valentine’s Day unit study from Treehouse Schoolhouse
A Virtuous Valentine’s
A Virtuous Valentine’s is a Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculum designed with your whole family in mind. It’s an invitation to study the life-changing love of God in a hands-on way. Through Scripture readings, beauty subjects, picture books, hands-on activities, and a look into the history of Valentine’s Day, this study provides an invitation to delve into the profound depth of God’s love and how it shapes our relationships. We’ll explore how God’s love is unconditional, how love is expressed through acts of kindness and encouragement, how compassion and empathy can change hearts and lives, and how true love is demonstrated through selflessness and sacrifice. Your study will conclude by celebrating and creating memories together with a Valentine’s Day Tea Party.
Do you teach encouragement in your home? Share your experience and insight in the comments below.
