Most parents hold their child’s hand when they cross the street or are close to something dangerous. It is not only a good thing to do from the standpoint of safety, it also is a good thing to show your child you care.

Holding hands should have another major place in your life. When was the last time you held hands with your partner? Even better, when was the last time your child saw you holding hands with your partner?

When we see people walking down the street holding hands, most of us feel that those people really like each other. Many times we see younger couples holding hands and expect that. But to see older people who demonstrate that same loving feeling is rare. Why?

Think about the message it sends to your children when you display affection for your partner in this way. You are showing your love to them. It is a demonstration of how lasting your marriage is that teaches what marriage is to your children.

Let your children see that you are in love. Sit close together, compliment each other, help each other, support each other and let the children see it. All of these things teach them about love.

Breaking bad habits

Just as you show your children you love each other, when you argue in front of them or treat each other poorly, it teaches them about marriage and your love. They know what is going on. In fact, it is difficult to keep secrets from children as they grow. Children raised in homes with lots of arguing and negative messages are greatly impacted by it. For that reason, you want to make sure the messages you send are the ones you want them to learn.

Just like most lessons in life, your children learn about love by what you show them and by how you treat them. But we also keep that loving bond by showing our partner that he or she is important to us.

These gestures help us keep the bonds of love strong. Keeping a marriage healthy and strong takes work and commitment.

Take a look at your relationship. What can you do to bring you and your partner closer together? Talk together, go places together, laugh together, stop what you are doing to have a chance to spend some time together, eat together, do things with your children together, discuss your day together, and hopefully, hold hands.

There is no age limit on holding hands.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.