U of G Expert Discusses Children’s ‘Love Languages’

Prof. Tricia van Rhijn
Prof. Tricia van Rhijn

The University of Guelph’s Tricia van Rhijn offered insight to Today’s Parent magazine about forging bonds with children in a way that meshes with their way of expressing love.

Van Rhijn, a professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, explained that it’s important to understand a child’s primary method for experiencing love, whether it’s through hugs, words of affection or other ways.

Determining a child’s “love language” can help deepen a parent’s relationship with them, she said, and the best way to do that is to spend lots of one-on-one time together.

Van Rhijn is a registered early childhood educator with interests in adult education. She studies parent-child relationships, child development, early childhood education and care, and family relations.

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