Love Languages for Kids: How Children Give and Receive Connection
Feb 02, 2026
When we think about “love languages”, we often think about adult relationships. But children - especially young children and those with developmental differences - also have powerful ways of giving and receiving connection. They just don’t always look the way we expect.
In pediatric therapy, we often reframe love languages into developmentally appropriate, therapy-friendly forms: movement, words, play, routines, and shared attention. Understanding how your child connects can help strengthen relationships, reduce frustration, and support emotional growth.
Let’s explore what “love languages” can look like for kids - and how therapy supports them.
Connection Through Movement
For many children, especially those who seek sensory input or have bodies that need to move, connection happens through physical activity rather than stillness.
This might look like:
In therapy terms, this is shared movement and proprioceptive input. Movement helps regulate the nervous system and creates a sense of safety and closeness.
How therapy helps:
Occupational and physical therapists often build connection through co-movement obstacle courses, swinging together, pushing heavy objects, or rhythmic activities. These moments aren’t “just play”; they’re powerful relationship builders.
Try this at home:
Join your child in movement instead of asking them to calm down first. Regulation and connection often come through movement, not after it.
Connection Through Words (or Sounds, Signs, and Symbols)
Some children seek connection through verbal language - talking, storytelling, jokes, or asking lots of questions. Others may use gestures, signs, pictures, AAC devices, or sounds to connect.
This might look like:
This isn’t always about information - it’s about shared attention and response.
How therapy helps:
Speech-language therapy focuses on communication as connection, not just correctness. Therapists model back-and-forth interaction, expand language gently, and honor all forms of communication.
Try this at home:
Respond to the intent, not just the words. A sound, gesture, or repeated phrase can be your child’s way of saying, “I want to connect.”
Connection Through Play
Play is one of the most natural love languages of childhood. For some kids, connection means playing with them - not directing, correcting, or teaching, but joining.
This might look like:
From a therapy perspective, this is relationship-based play and joint engagement.
How therapy helps:
Across disciplines, therapists use play to build trust, communication, motor skills, and emotional regulation. Following a child’s lead sends a powerful message: You matter. I see you.
Try this at home:
Spend a few minutes a day letting your child lead play without correcting or redirecting. Connection often comes before skill-building.
Connection Through Routines and Predictability
For many children, especially those with sensory sensitivities or anxiety, connection comes from consistency and shared routines.
This might look like:
This isn’t rigidity - it’s a way of feeling safe and connected.
How therapy helps:
Therapists support regulation through visual schedules, predictable routines, and clear transitions. When a child feels safe, connection can grow.
Try this at home:
Create small, predictable moments of connection - morning hugs, bedtime songs, or transition rituals. These routines become emotional anchors.
What If My Child’s Love Language Looks Different?
That’s okay - and expected.
Some children may avoid touch, struggle with words, or prefer independent play. This doesn’t mean they don’t want connection; it means they express it differently. Pediatric therapy helps families decode these signals and respond in ways that honor the child’s nervous system and developmental needs.
Connection Is the Foundation
No matter the “language,” connection is at the heart of development. When children feel safe, seen, and understood, they are better able to:
At Pediatric POST, we don’t just work on goals - we build relationships that help children thrive.
If you ever feel unsure how your child shows or receives connection, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Your child’s therapy team can help you better understand their unique ways of connecting and offer personalized strategies to support those moments at home and in the community.
Connection is a journey, and partnering with your therapists can make that journey feel more supported, confident, and meaningful.