This was fine. I'm super familiar with the love languages, so I don't really know what I thought would be different about this book. It was literally the exact same thing, just with examples pertaining to kids and then some thoughts later about how these apply to learning and discipline and so on. It did say that in kids under 5, it is impossible to tell what their love language is, so in some ways major parts of the book didn't apply to me yet since my kids are 3 & 5. It was good food for thought but nothing that will revolutionize my parenting or anything.

The strengths of the book.
-It was great to have a review of the love languages, focusing specifically on children.
-Things that could be problematic were addressed: like all children wanting gifts, parents using gifts as bribes for behavior, older children manipulating their parents if told directly about the love languages.
-The baseline - you must show your child expressions of love in every "language", and your love should be unconditional - were repeated throughout.
-There were some really good ideas of ways to express each type of love language to a child, and ways to figure out which is theirs, if it's not quickly apparent.

The quibbles.
-If you know the love languages, the first part will be review.
-Some of the real life examples seemed made up.
-Some of the chapters in the second half made dire statements. I'm paraphrasing, with slight exaggeration, but - if you don't learn your child's love language, they will not be an emotionally mature adult and their life could be ruined. If you don't teach your child how to handle anger properly, they will not be able to maturely handle their anger as an adult and their life will probably be ruined. If you discipline using mainly punishment, they will withdraw emotionally from you and their life will be ruined. If you don't discipline enough...

I definitely took away a large helping of anxiety about ruining my children, but I'm glad I read it just for the reminder and new ideas of ways to show love to my children. I sometimes forget to be expressive. Even if I never fully figure out their love language, our lives will be mutually enriched by all the extra showing AND telling them that I love them.

This book, like the other "Five Languages of Love" book, takes an interesting concept that could have been detailed in a 3-5 page essay but is instead stretched miserably with vague example stories and filler recaps so they could publish an entire book. Also, the section that declared that not all women work, so they should talk to their husbands about receiving a monthly budget to buy them gifts was particularly weird.

I appreciate the aims of this book. My biggest worry as a parent--or rather, ONE of my many biggest--is that my daughter will not feel sufficiently loved/appreciated/proud of/etc. Love was a complicated and fraught thing in my home growing up, which has led me to be overly-concerned and ready to consume the books offered at the library in hopes of not missing out.

This is another one of those books that could have been covered in a nice article rather than a lengthy book and the elaborations seemed to treat the reader as if no interpretation abilities were present. I think this will help most in conflict, which is perhaps the best place it can be used--a reminder of what my kids might need more of at a particular time and how I might offer it to her. She needs to feel loved and unconditionally and on all levels.

The implications of knowing a person's love language could be deep manipulation, which is a bit unfortunate. Fortunately, I think my partnership would never resort to that, which I hope will carry over to my daughter and any future littles. I appreciate the pointing out of how one must have a solid partnership and other good adult relationships in order to model and pass on good feelings and behavior. And I think it's important to process anger and upset situations wisely.

But I find the pigeonholing a bit silly.