I Love You Rituals

When I received this book and read the ideas, I thought they sounded great for very young children, but doubted I could use them with my 8 and 9yo. I thought they would see it as "babyish" and silly......but I gave a few of them a go, and they absolutely loved them! And asked for more and more! I think these are great for the older kids like my foster kids, who missed out on that kind of interaction when they were little. I am enjoying it, and so are the kids....I will do a couple each day till I become more familiar and can do them without the book.

I just purchased this book after having been recommended it by a leading expert on kids with attachment/severe trauma problems. It is wonderful, easy to read and makes much sense from a clinician's and parent's perspective.

I recommend it to all with young children, it is full of nurturing and fun activities with full explanations and rationale. Certainly a must buy for any adoptive/foster parent to increase trust, attachment, and bonding.

Kandice J.

is something I hear just about every day. My six and three year old love - absolutely love - the finger plays and songs from this book. The negative, frightening themes from nursery rhymes are removed and replaced with loving positive words and images.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe becomes:
There was a wonderful woman who lived in a shoe
She had so many children she knew exactly what to do
She fed them and hugged them and tucked them in bed
I love you, I love you is what she said.

that's just one short snip of a book chock full of ideas surrounding saying goodbye, reconnecting when picking up (after school, playdates, overnights etc). There are little rituals for birthdays, bedtimes, transitional times (think new baby).

I just can't say enough positive things about this book. When my kids are or I am in a funk and we're both being oppositional, this reconnects us. Connected people *want* to cooperate. Connected people *want* to be a part of the family. Connected people *want* to help. It just can turn things around for us in an instant.

while this was the first Becky Baily item I bought, she's since become my favorite parenting author. I found _Easy to Love, Dificult to Discipline_ a bit of a bore to read (and I can usually slog through anything), so I bought all 11 of her CD's (her lectures on CD) from beckybailey.com They've been nothing short of incredible.

oh, and I strongly disagree with the person who mentioned that 'it's too specific' and only for families who foster or adopt. I really can't imagine why it would only be for those situations. It would work for anyone: parent of bio children, adopted children, foster children....teachers and theirstudents.. ...grandparents.. ...babysitters. anyone who wants to help kids feel connected and loved.

I finally found a book with positive nursey rhymes! The author has brilliantly rewritten the familiar old rhymes (which are often negative and scary) in a reframed more positive manner (i.e. three blind mice become three caring mice etc).

The re-written rhymes make this world seem like a more loving and caring place for a child. Children grow up so fast...soon enough they'll be in the "real world". Why not let the little ones enjoy a safe loving place, where everything is good, a little longer? Highly recommend to give children a sense of security and trust. Also, the game ideas are fantastic. You can't go wrong with this book.

My children just adore the I Love You Rituals that we do. Even if we are at a crowded place and we can't hear each other, the I Love You Rituals come in quite handy!