What do you say when a child says...

[Lovingtheseagulls]

"I love you"? I work in Foundation Stage and have two children who every now and then say "I love you". I automatically reply with "I love you too" but wonder if this is appropriate really. What would you say?

'Oh thank you. Let's....(divert and distract)'

Some might say it's inappropriate and want you to say 'No you don't, you love mummy (or whoever) and you like me'. I think it's horrible to deny a child's expression of their emotions.

I've had it said to me and replied with "aww, thank you. let's go do x y z" and try and steer away from the subject.

I think saying "I love you" back is a bit inappropriate but it would be mean and hurtful to tell them that they don't or not reply at all.

How about 'Thank you, and I love all the children in our class'?

Oops, x posted there somehow.

I often don't say anything just a smile will do but when it does require a response I usually say 'I love you all' or 'thank you, and I love being your teacher' or similar.

Yes I will try just saying thank you. It's so hard, these two children have really tricky home lives and I think school is probably where they get most of their stability. I want them to feel loved.

'I love being your teacher' is a great response earthy.

My nephew went through a phase of saying this to teachers and they corrected him to say "I like you" when speaking to teachers

Oh. 'I love being your teacher' is brilliant. Thanks.

Thank you and change the subject is best option I think.

I love being your teacher is a very good one, in my opinion.

Plain thank you can be a bit harsh for some children.

But sayings "Thank you, xxx, I love teaching you/this class/your class" is quite a nice work around, and then you can change the subject.

I say 'Aw, that's a nice thing to say', or 'Aw, do you?' then carry on. I never say I love you back, because it's not true!

I just say
Aw, thank you! That's lovely
and return their hug
It happens nearly every day
It means you are doing your job properly

I had this recently in secondary (Y8) - my response was 'Thanks, you're a great class - always good to see you'

I say something like "I love being with all of you!"