Ways to speak words of affirmation and quality time to kids with special needs aren’t hard to cook up. Doing so requires three simple ingredients. 

The first is determining the child’s love language, a process described in the previous post in this series. The second is to review the two child development concepts mentioned in Love Is a Child’s First Language, another post in the series. The third is Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilties. 

Chapter 5 of Sharing Love Abundantly is packed with accounts from parents raising kids with disabilities and special needs about how they use words of affirmation and quality time with their kids, as well as more ideas list at the end of the chapter. Here’s a taste of what it contains.

Words of Affirmation

• Creating a victory wall
• Throwing a hero party
• Singing a customized bedtime song
• Writing lunchbox notes
• Giving specific praise
• Compiling a “My Quotable Kid” book

Quality Time

• Attending sensory movies
• Completing Highlights magazine puzzles in doctor’s waiting room
• Chase Pokemon together
• Walk the dog together
• Take bike rides with an adaptive or tandem bike
• Use the summer to find the best vanilla ice cream in town

These are just the tip of the love language ideas found in Sharing Love Abundantly. The next post in this series will feature ideas about how to adapt Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch for our kids. Until then, try out the ideas above and see how your child responds to them.

Other articles in this series:

The Love Languages and Special Needs Families: A Good Combination

Basic Love Language Concepts to Ease Stress and Increase Joy in Caregiving Families

Threats to Caregiving Marriages and How To Fight Them 

Love Is a Child’s First Language

Determining the Love Language of a Child with Special Needs or a Disability 

Ways To Speak Gifts and Acts of Service to Kids with Special Needs 

Speaking Healthy Physical Touch to Kids with Special Needs

Using the Love Languages with Siblings of Kids with Special Needs and Disabilities 

Extended Family Members Can Use the Love Languages to Encourage Caregiving Parents

Communicating Your Child’s Love Language to Medical Professionals

Communicating Your Child’s Love Language to Educators 

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