*** 28 Ways to Deepen the Bond with Your Child

Like any good relationship, the relationship with your child can benefit from thoughtful gestures that help your child feel special and deeply loved.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting that we sometimes forget to add touches of love that can deepen the bond with our children.

I'm going to suggest 28 small, loving gestures that will add sparkle to your child's day without much effort on your part as you juggle the many demands of parenthood. Perhaps you want to try just one? Or perhaps you can try one each day this month? Know that your child will deeply appreciate the extra love you're sending his/her way.

• Put love notes in their lunchbox
• Whisper "I love you" in their ear
• Call them by a pet name
• Spend 15 minutes alone with them today
• Snuggle closely tonight
• Leave a Hershey's kiss on their pillow
• Watch videos of them as a baby
• Get a kid's joke book and giggle together
• Massage their feet
• Play their favorite game 6 times!
• Let them stay up late one night with you
• Tell them cute stories of when they were younger
• Make a meal with all of their favorite things
• Bake an "I love you" cake with Xs and Os on top
• Make them their own soft, fuzzy blanket
• Look them in the eye and tell them what you love most about them
• Tell them you can't imagine parenting anyone else
• Surprise them and have lunch with them at school
• Take a walk in the woods together
• Make them a tape with a secret message
• Set up a scavenger hunt with a prize at the end
• Give them coupons worth 10 free hugs
• Have a tickle fest and enjoy their giggles
• Make up a poem about them
• Compliment them in front of someone else
• Give them a single rose
• Dance with them in the living room
• Dress up and have a fancy dinner
• Thank God for the incredible gift you've been given!