When my son turned five years of age when he would see me and my husband and kiss he thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Sometimes, he would even come up and hug our legs as if to say, “I love you’ll too!”
While some parents hide their affection for one another in front of the kids, I think it’s important for our kids to see us showing one another love. There are several reasons why I believe this, and research supports that when kids see healthy love, they are far more likely to experience healthy love. For those seeking insights on nurturing healthy relationships in front of their kids, “Parental Love: Displaying Affection in Front of Children“ is a great resource.
Here are 4 lessons your kids learn from PDA.
1. What romance is?
If you and your partner are always treating each other with love, going on dates, cuddling, and holding hands, your child is seeing what romance is firsthand. “The Art of Romance: Teaching Kids Through Example“ explains the positive impacts of this. They are picking up on how partners show love when they do love each other. This is beneficial because one day, they will have their relationships.
2. It makes them feel secure.
Kids feel more secure when their parents are happy. If their parents are in a toxic relationship, it can make them feel insecure or afraid. But, when their parents openly love each other, they do not worry.
3. They learn what healthy love is.
The love we harbor for our partners is what your child learns to be normal. If your relationship is toxic, then your child may view that as normal. If your relationship is healthy, then your child will expect that from their future relationships. A deeper dive into this topic can be found in “Healthy Love: Setting the Standard for Kids“.
4. They accept intimacy as good instead of ‘gross.’
A lot of how we view intimacy is taught. If we are told kissing is gross, then that is what we believe. This can make intimacy feel wrong or off later in life. So be open about how intimacy is a beautiful thing between two people that love each other. To help explain intimacy to kids, the guide “Understanding Intimacy: A Child-Friendly Approach“ can be quite helpful.