How To Speak Your Child’s Love Language-Receiving Gifts
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.Is your child’s love language “Receiving Gifts” and you want to learn more about how to show your child love? Maybe you sort of understand what that means but you just don’t know exactly how to make your child feel loved without him being spoiled. Does “Receiving Gifts” as a love language justify all the stuff I have been buying him?” you might think. In today’s post you will be learning exactly what “love language Receiving Gifts” actually means as a love language, how to recognize if your child has this as their love language and what you can do to fill your child’s love tank.
Do you have a child who just jumps for joy and squeals at the moment you say “I have something for you!” They get so excited at the fact that there is a gift hiding somewhere behind you that they basically tackle you until you give up and hand the gift over. Your child probably has the love language “Receiving Gifts”.
Related: How To Speak Your Child’s Love Language-Words Of Affirmation
Yes, most kids love receiving gifts, especially at a young age, so that is why this love language is hard to really pick out in most children.
The 5 Love Languages
To have a better understanding of what Gary Chapman was talking about in his book, “The 5 Love Languages”, let’s list them out. Here is a brief description of each one and how you can express that love language to your loved one.
1. Words of Affirmation – Speaking positive words over that person
2. Acts of Service – Doing something for the other person, such as a helpful task or chore
3. Receiving Gifts– Giving presents or a physical token of affection
4. Physical Touch – Providing hugs, kisses, physical embrace
5. Quality Time– Giving someone your undivided attention
Related: 33 Ideas For Quality One-On-One Time With Your Child
If you are not quite sure what your child’s love language is, you can take the appropriate profile quiz here:
Profile Assessment for ages 5-8
Profile Assessment for ages 9-12
Profile Assessment for Teen years
Understanding “Receiving Gifts” as a Love Language
If your child’s love language is receiving gifts, it’s not all about being spoiled or receiving material things. Your child delights in receiving something tangible. It could be a hand me down momento from your grandfather or even as simple as a homemade paper airplane. It’s just the thought that counts and what matters most to him. Your child feels loved when he receives something in his hand, no matter what it is.
This person may feel more honored to get an award or a physical prize, medal or trophy rather than an applause for an accomplishment.
Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages page explains it this way:
For some people, what makes them feel most loved is to receive a gift.
“Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous – so would the absence of everyday gestures. Gifts are visual representations of love and are treasured greatly.”
10 Ways To Show Love To Your “Receiving Gifts” Child
1. Make a handmade card and write something thoughtful in it
2.Make a craft of some kind with their name and your name on it with a heart
3. Give them something special from your childhood, like an old ring or watch
4. Frame a picture of your parents for your child to have in their room
5. Make a small photo album of memories with you and your child together in the pictures
6. Take note of what you kid asked for in the store but buy it and give it to him at another RANDOM time.
7. Make a Certificate with your child’s name on it and present it to him when he accomplishes something big.
8. Leave a surprise somewhere in your child’s room for him to find on a special day
9. Buy a small memento from a special trip you went on together
10. Finally, give your child a keepsake box that your child will be able to collect and keep of his favorite tokens of love inside of it.
Related: Best Gift Ideas For Little Girls
**Always show appreciation and excitement when they make you a small gift (that’s how your child is expressing his love towards you).
Remember Not To Spoil
All these ideas are not fancy or expensive. Try to be creative and use these ideas to inspire you to come up with more gift ideas that you know your kid would really appreciate and love. No matter what you give your child, it’s not the amount of money you spend on the gift, but the thought that went into it. I’m a sucker for handmade gifts, and I know my kids are too.
Remember, this is not about spoiling your child and giving him whatever he wants when you go shopping at the store. It’s all about expressing love through the thoughtfulness that lies behind the gift. If you are looking for more ideas, you would really enjoy reading Gary Chapman’s book “The 5 Love Languages of Children”.
What does your child delight in the most when it comes to gift giving? Comment below and share you best gift you ever gave your child. I would love to hear your ideas.
If you want to learn more about The 5 Love Languages, including Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Quality Time and Words of Affirmation, you would enjoy reading my tips and ideas in the other posts mentioned below.
Keep Smiling,
Dr. Jena Bradley, DPT
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
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-Jena
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It is so much fun to study the kids and find what their love language is! They are all so different! Thanks for the great tips on how to fill the love tank of a child whose love language is receiving gifts!
Ashley, so glad you enjoyed these tips! I also love to see how God has made each one of my girls so unique in their own special way as he has done for your 4 girls as well.