With Valentine’s Day upon us, I thought this week I’d share with you some specials gifts you can give your children that will show them you love them and that will last longer than the traditional annual greeting card.

First, use plenty of positive words with your child, not just on Valentine’s Day but each and every day! This builds their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Telling them, “Good job” or “You are being so nice” are some other great ways to say, “I love you.”

Second, if your child is angry or in a bad mood, give them a hug, a pat on the back, or if it’s an older child, have a secret sign or gesture of affection that says you love them. That will usually calm things down and have your child or teen more eager to talk with you about whatever the problem is.

Next, it’s important to make time for your children each day but build in what I call special time with each of your children at least weekly.

What do I mean by special time? Do something different from your daily routine with your child that plays to one of their special strengths.

For example, if they like to cook, let them make cookies with you, or if they like to draw, sit down and do an art project together. Doing this allows you to recognize and in turn show each child in your family how unique they are and that one of the many reasons you love them is for their uniqueness.

Finally, don’t forget to simply say, “I love you” to your child on a daily basis. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t say that phrase enough!

Hopefully, tips like these will go a lot farther than Cupid’s arrows can when it comes to showing your children how much you love them and in return how much they will love you so that Valentine’s Day is not just celebrated on February 14, but every day of the year.

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Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at the Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and MyNBC 5.