I’ve shared a lot of my best tips on important topics of family life: homeschooling, meals, cleaning, and all the things in between! But at the center of it all are my five amazing children.

But when you have a family, big or small, dividing your attention between the children is a challenge that parents are often unprepared for; I know I wasn’t! Now, I have the perfect formula to make sure each kiddo feels loved, understood, and fulfilled.

Make Them Feel SpecialHere are my favorite ways to give my children the extra attention they need:

Show Love in Small Ways

As moms, we do little acts of kindness all day long! The littles might not see it, making it so important to show love in ways they can interpret. Sometimes that can be cooking their favorite meal (like chicken spaghetti) or choosing an activity they love! When my husband is home, tossing around a soft football in the backyard always puts a smile on the kids’ faces.

Words of affirmation are also one of the best ways to share your love with your child. I ensure that each of my children gets daily encouragement from me. Some of my favorite phrases are “You have great ideas,” “I love spending time with you,” or “I’m so proud of you!” You never know what your child might need to hear, so pay close attention and give them the message they need most from you.

Make Them Feel Special

When they need something a little extra, offer Mommy time! I love to schedule unique mother-daughter or -son dates when I can devote time to each kid. It eliminates all other distractions and allows us to bond on a deeper level. If your calendar looks too full, you can always have simple one-on-one conversations with your child rather than planning an elaborate activity. Trust me, they will appreciate both versions of Mommy time.

As my husband can be away from home a lot, it’s important to me that his absence isn’t viewed in a negative light. To avoid this, the kids rotate sleeping with me in his place! Having a sleepover with mom in the big bed is a dream come true for the littles.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

When I see that my other tips aren’t doing the trick, I sit them down and ask the tough question: “How can I serve you better as a mom?” I can’t read their minds, so having them tell me exactly what support I can give them avoids a lot of frustration and loneliness. It’s not only important to listen to your child but to also take action to provide them with what they asked for. Try to build their needs into your schedule.

 With these tips, you should find that your children get the attention they deserve without overextending your time.