Discovering Your God-Given Love Language!

Prepare a dessert ahead of time. It's fun if you choose a "heart" theme! For example: heart candies, heart shaped cake, cookies, or brownies, etc.

ALSO... at the end of the Love Language Game, each person will select the heart that has their love language on it and write their name in the space provided. You can have them printed ahead of time. Click here for Hearts template.

The purpose of this Family Night Activity is to determine your God-given Love Language. Parents should read the questions below in preparation for the Family Night, but don't let your kids know what the love languages are until after you play the game! The Love Language Game (in Bonus Activities) will help each of you determine your unique Love Language as well as find out what everyone else's Love Language is!

Introduce the game...

Not everyone feels love the same way. For example, one little girl may feel loved most when her dad tells her he loves her, while another girl might love it more when he hugs her. Their brother, however, may like it best when his dad makes time to play with him. They each have a different Love Language. Tonight we're going to play a game that will help us discover what everyone's love language is!

NOTE: Play the game and then tell them about the Love Languages!

What are the Love Languages?

#1. Words of Encouragement or Affirmation

you feel especially loved when someone tells you they appreciate you and are grateful for the things you do, big or small.

#2. Quality Time

you feel especially loved when someone chooses to spend special time with you alone.

#3. Receiving Gifts

you feel especially loved when someone gives you a gift, big or small, to let you know they've thought of you.

#4. Acts of Service

you feel especially loved when someone offers to help you accomplish a task, or does something to serve you.

#5. Physical Touch

you feel especially loved when someone hugs you, wrestles with you, pats you on the back or appropriately touches you.

(It is very important to read Dr. Chapman's book, "The Five Love Languages of Children."* If your child's love language is touch, he/she needs to understand how to appropriately receive and give this love language.)

*The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman, PhD and Ross Campbell, MD., Northfield Publishing, © 1997, 2005. Used with permission.

Questions and Comments for Discussion:

What do you think your Love Language is?

Are you surprised by someone's Love Language?

Why is it helpful to know what someone's Love Language is?

We tend to show others we love them through our own love language. This works great if their primary love language is the same as yours. It doesn't work well if they have a different one.

Do you think God has a Love Language? If so, which one is it?

We are going to explore God's Love. Let's see if our answer is the same at the end of the adventure as it is now!

NOTE: Have everyone select the heart with their love language on it and have them write their name in the space provided. You may want to have these printed ahead of time. Post them where everyone can see them as a reminder to look for ways to show love in each person's love language! (See The Love Language Game in the Bonus Activities or Click here for Hearts template.)

Final Note:

We recommend you read Dr. Gary Chapman's Book "The Five Love Languages of Children." The fun activity you did tonight just scratches the surface of possibilities for understanding the Love Languages. The book will give you insight into how to best love your children and yourself and how to help them love others.

For further hands-on activities, check out the Bonus Activities for God is Love.