There are a lot of things we can do to make Valentine's Day feelings last all year long.

Whether you're a busy working parent with school age children or a stay-at-home parent with preschoolers, you can use some of these ideas and add more of your own.

Use descriptive praise. Tell your child exactly what he/she did that pleases you, or exactly what you think makes your child special or unique. Avoid meaningless generalizations. (great, wonderful, good job) Say what you really mean.
Be sure your child knows your praise is genuine. Take time to look into your child's eyes when you give praise; and give a little hug, pat on the back or ruffle their hair to reinforce what you are telling them. They need this just like you do, every day.
Let your child overhear you praise him or her to other people. If the child might be embarrassed, do it so they "accidentally" hear it.
Have mirrors in your home at the child's eye level. Use them to help the child see special things that you see ... "See the neat way your nose wrinkles when you laugh ... See how shiny your hair is ... See how tall you're getting ... Your eyes really sparkle."
Write brief love notes and messages and put them in surprising places…a lunch box, a favorite book, under a cereal bowl, on a toothbrush, or inside a pocket. Use picture messages for younger children. Send your child an 'I love you" post card or letter in the mail.

Evelyn Petersen's nationally syndicated parenting column is carried in more than 200 newspapers twice each week. As a family/parenting consultant, early childhood educator, Head Start consultant, and host of a series of parent training audio and video tapes, Ms. Petersen employs an approach of providing hands-on, nuts and bolts advice to parents across the country. You can read more from Evelyn at her Web site: www.askevelyn.com.