Yesterday, my son asked me: “Mum, are you in love with me?”
My heart stopped for a moment. Of course I am. Of course he knows that… doesn’t he?
We get these questions from time to time as parents – these little checks, these sweet reassurances they need. And each time, it makes me wonder: am I showing my love in the way they need to receive it? Or am I loving them in my language while they’re listening in theirs?
Because here’s what I’ve learned from raising my own children, watching them play with their friends, and of course – from creating toys to nurture their imagination: love isn’t just about how deeply we feel it. It’s about whether our children can hear it, feel it, know it in their bones.
The Five Love Languages in Play
You might have heard of the five love languages – the idea that we all give and receive love differently. Some of us feel most loved through words of affirmation, others through quality time, physical touch, gifts, or acts of service.
But have you thought about how this shows up in your child’s play?
Because play isn’t separate from love – it’s where children live. It’s their work, their language, their world. And if we can meet them there, in the way they need to be met, everything shifts. They feel seen. They feel secure. They stop asking “Are you in love with me?” because they already know.
I’ve created a simple quiz – just five questions about how your child plays – that will help you discover their love language. Not in theory, but in practice. Not in some abstract way, but in the real, daily moments when they’re on the floor with their toys and you’re trying to figure out how to connect.
And then, I’ll show you how The Storyhouse can support exactly the kind of play connection your child is craving.
Take the Quiz
Answer these five questions thinking about how your child naturally plays. There’s no right or wrong – just notice what’s true for them.
Question 1: During playtime, your child is happiest when…
a) They’re cuddled up close to you, telling you stories about their play;
b) You notice and praise what they’ve created or how they’ve arranged things;
c) You’re playing alongside them, both involved in the unfolding story together;
d) There’s something new to explore or add to their play;
e) You’re helping them bring their creative ideas to life.
Question 2: When your child plays with their favourite toys, they…
a) Want you physically near – leaning against you or in your lap while they play;
b) Keep calling you over to see their latest creation or setup;
c) Ask you to take on characters and build the story with them, continuing where you left off yesterday;
d) Get excited about what else they could add or what comes next;
e) Need your hands to help – holding pieces steady, cutting out templates, or finding just the right materials.
Question 3: After playing for a while, your child…
a) Settles in closer to you, arranging toys while staying tucked against your side;
b) Proudly shows you everything they’ve made and waits for your reaction;
c) Reminds you what happened in your last play session and wants to continue the adventure;
d) Starts planning what new elements or pieces they want;
e) Asks you to help rearrange their play scene or move things to a better spot.
Question 4: Your child feels most connected to you during play when…
a) You’re sitting close together, with gentle physical closeness;
b) You celebrate their ideas with words like “that’s so creative!” or “you designed this yourself?”;
c) You’re both lost in a shared story that grows and evolves over days;
d) You surprise them with a new wallpaper, toy, or play element;
e) You’re working side-by-side on a craft or building project.
Question 5: The toys your child returns to most are ones that…
a) Feel good in their hands – smooth, warm, tactile pieces they can hold;
b) Let them build impressive things they can show off;
c) You can both play with, creating ongoing stories that neither of you want to end;
d) Offer variety and can be changed or expanded with new pieces;
e) You can help them with – things to construct, make, or create together.
Your Results
Count up your answers:
- Mostly A’s = Physical Touch
- Mostly B’s = Words of Affirmation
- Mostly C’s = Quality Time
- Mostly D’s = Gifts/New Stimulus
- Mostly E’s = Acts of Service
Now read your child’s love language below to discover how The Storyhouse can support the connection they’re craving.
Mostly A’s: Your child speaks Physical Touch in play
For your child, play is most magical when it comes with closeness. They’re the ones who naturally gravitate toward your lap while playing, who lean against you as they arrange their toys, who want to feel your warmth beside them as their imagination unfolds. These are the children who bring their favourite toy over to where you’re sitting, who settle into the crook of your arm to tell you elaborate stories, who play most contentedly when they can reach out and touch you.
This isn’t about needing constant entertainment – it’s about feeling safe and connected through gentle physical presence. Their play deepens when they’re anchored to you, when they can feel that you’re right there, when closeness and creativity intertwine.
What they need: Your child needs toys that invite cosy, intimate play rather than active, energetic games. They need playthings they can bring to you, that fit in small spaces where you’re already sitting together, that feel good in their hands – smooth, warm, tactile. They don’t need toys that take them away from you; they need ones that let them play while staying close.
The magic happens in those quiet moments – curled up together on the sofa, tucked against your side on the floor, snuggled in bed before sleep – when their hands are busy with play but their body is close to yours. They’re not asking you to do anything; they just want to feel you near while their imagination roams.
The Storyhouse for you: Small Storyhouse + Illustrated Wallpapers
This is perfect for intimate, close-together play. The small storyhouse is just the right size to fit between you on the sofa, to set up on your lap, to bring to bed for before-sleep storytelling. It’s light enough for small hands to carry over to wherever you are. The smooth wooden pieces feel lovely to hold and arrange – tactile, natural, warm.
The illustrated wallpapers transform the play into storytelling magic. Your child will snuggle close, changing the scenes, telling you everything that’s happening in their world. And because the wallpapers are magnetic, little hands can change them easily, staying close to you the whole time.
The small storyhouse fits in its cotton storage bag, so your child can carry their whole play world to wherever you are – the garden, grandma’s house, a cosy corner on a rainy day.
Try this: Create cosy play rituals – before bed storytelling, rainy afternoon snuggles, quiet weekend mornings in your bed. Let them bring the Storyhouse to you rather than you going to a play area. The portability means play happens wherever connection happens.
Mostly B’s: Your child speaks Words of Affirmation in play
For your child, creating something impressive is the heart of play. They’re the ones who can’t wait to show you what they’ve made, who call you over repeatedly to see their latest arrangement, who beam when you notice the details of their work. These are the children who ask “Do you like it?” and “Look what I made!” – not from insecurity, but because your recognition fuels their creative confidence.
This isn’t about needing constant praise – it’s about feeling seen and celebrated in their creativity. Their play becomes bolder, more ambitious, more joyful when they know someone notices and appreciates the thought and care they’ve put into their creations.
What they need: Your child needs toys that let them build, design, and create things worth showing off. They need space to be ambitious, materials to bring their ideas to life, and playthings that can become truly impressive when they apply their creativity. They don’t need simple toys – they need ones that can showcase their growing skills and imagination.
The magic happens when you genuinely notice what they’ve done – not generic praise, but specific celebration: “You designed that yourself?” “Look how you arranged the colours!” “I love the way you thought of that detail.” They’re building both play worlds and confidence and your words help them see their own capabilities.
The Storyhouse for you: The Happy Hideaway Set
This set gives your child the room they need to create something truly impressive. It includes everything they need for elaborate setups that will make them proud.
But here’s what makes these special for your child: the downloadable furniture templates. They can design and create their own furniture, cut and fold and construct pieces that are entirely their own work. You get to celebrate not just how they’ve arranged things, but what they’ve actually made with their own hands and imagination.
Each new template they complete, each piece of furniture they construct, each room they design gives you authentic reasons to celebrate their creativity: “You made this entire chair yourself!” “The way you decorated this is so creative!” “I can’t believe you designed that – it’s brilliant!”
The modular nature means they can constantly redesign, rearrange, expand – always creating new things to show you, new achievements to feel proud of.
Try this: Download new furniture templates regularly – each one is a fresh challenge and a new accomplishment. Display their favourite creations somewhere visible. Take photos of their setups to show grandparents or save as memories. Be specific in your praise – notice the details, the choices, the problem-solving.
Mostly C’s: Your child speaks Quality Time in play
For your child, play isn’t really about the toys themselves – it’s about sharing a world with you. They light up when you sit down on the floor beside them, when you take on a character in their story, when you’re fully present in their imaginative world. These are the children who will pause their game to make sure you’re watching, who assign you roles in their play, who want you right there even if you’re just a quiet witness to their adventures.
This isn’t clingy or demanding – it’s their beautiful way of saying “being with you is what makes everything better.” Their play becomes richer, their stories more elaborate, their confidence stronger when you’re sharing that space with them.
What they need: Your child needs toys that invite you in rather than shut you out. They need playthings that are rich enough to inspire long, unfolding stories but simple enough that you can both get lost in them together. They don’t need the fanciest or the most – they need things that create a shared world where you can meet them.
The magic happens not in solitary play, but in those moments when you’re both on the floor, when time slows down, when you’re listening to their stories and adding gentle threads to the narrative. They’re not asking for entertainment – they’re asking for your presence.
The Storyhouse for you: Small or Big Storyhouse + Illustrated Wallpapers
This is the perfect companion for quality time play. Choose the Small Storyhouse if you love intimate, portable play – it fits in its cotton bag, travels to grandma’s house, sets up quickly on the living room floor. Or choose the Big Storyhouse if you want more room to spread out together. Either way, the focus stays where your child wants it: on the story you’re building together.
The illustrated wallpapers are the secret ingredient. Each one gives your child endless story prompts. You’ll find yourself sitting there longer than you planned, drawn into their imagination, surprised by the stories they weave. This isn’t a dollhouse that demands elaborate accessories or perfect setup – it’s one that invites you both to simply be together in play.
Try this: Change the wallpapers with the seasons – each new scene becomes a fresh invitation to play together. Set aside time when you’re truly present – phone away, just you and them and the unfolding stories.
Mostly D’s: Your child speaks Gifts & New Stimulus in play
For your child, the excitement is in discovery and expansion. They’re the ones who love adding new elements to their play, who get energised by fresh possibilities, who thrive when their play world can grow and evolve. These are the children who play enthusiastically with new things, who imagine what else they could add, who see potential in variety and change.
This isn’t about being spoiled or needing constant new toys – it’s about how their imagination sparks when given new stimulus. Their play becomes richer when there’s something new to explore, a fresh scene to inspire stories, a different element to incorporate into their world.
What they need: Your child needs toys that can grow with them – not everything at once, but gradually expanding over time. They need playthings that can be added to, that offer variety, that stay fresh and engaging as new pieces join the collection. They don’t need elaborate toys that do everything; they need simple, quality pieces that create endless new combinations.
The magic happens when something new arrives – a new wallpaper, a new module, fresh templates to download – and suddenly their play world expands. Each addition sparks fresh stories, new scenarios, renewed engagement. They’ll excitedly tell you everything about how this changes their play.
The Storyhouse for you: Start Small, Grow Gradually
Begin with the Small Storyhouse – it’s the perfect foundation. Then, over time, add new elements: a new illustrated wallpaper for their birthday, another module for Christmas, fresh furniture templates to download when they need something new.
This modular approach is ideal for your child. Each new wallpaper transforms their play. The magnetic system means they can change scenes easily, so even the wallpapers you already have feel fresh when rotated.
As they grow, you can add more modules to create a bigger house, download new template collections, introduce seasonal wallpapers. Their Storyhouse grows with them, always offering something new to discover without overwhelming them with everything at once.
The cotton storage bags mean different modules and wallpapers can be rotated – sometimes the small house comes out, sometimes it grows larger. This built-in variety keeps play engaging.
Try this: Create a rhythm of new additions – maybe a new wallpaper each season, templates downloaded monthly, a new module for special occasions. Let them help choose what comes next. Listen to all the stories they tell when something new arrives – their excitement is the fuel for their imagination.
Mostly E’s: Your child speaks Acts of Service in play
For your child, play is best when you’re creating together. They’re the ones who ask you to help with tricky cuts, who want you to hold pieces steady while they glue, who love working side-by-side on projects. These are the children who feel most connected when you’re both making something, when your hands and their hands are working toward the same creation.
This isn’t about needing you to do things for them – it’s about the joy of collaboration. Their play becomes more satisfying when you’re helping them bring their ideas to life, when you’re the supportive partner in their creative process, when making something together becomes a shared achievement.
What they need: Your child needs toys that invite collaboration – things to construct, materials to work with, projects that benefit from an extra pair of hands. They need playthings that require some making, some doing, some gentle assistance. They don’t need toys that work automatically; they need ones that invite you to help them create.
The magic happens when you’re sitting together at the table, cutting out templates, folding furniture pieces, solving how to make something work. You’re not playing for them – you’re helping them accomplish what they’ve imagined. Finding materials together, moving the dollhouse to just the right spot, looking for the perfect paper for a new creation.
The Storyhouse for you: The Cosy Set
This set is perfect for collaborative play. It includes the Small Storyhouse and the Triangle Storyhouse – which means there’s plenty to make together. The templates invite your partnership: you can help with tricky cutting, suggest papers or materials, hold pieces while they glue, work side-by-side bringing furniture to life.
The flat-pack design of the Storyhouse itself is part of the collaboration – you can help them assemble it the first time, or take it apart and rebuild together. Moving the modules from room to room, setting up play scenes, finding the perfect spot – these practical acts of service become part of the play.
As they work on templates, you can go together to find interesting papers, help them discover new materials to use, assist when something’s difficult. You’re not doing it for them – you’re the helpful partner that makes their vision possible.
Try this: Set aside regular making time – weekend mornings at the kitchen table, rainy afternoons with paper and scissors. Download new templates together and decide which to make first. Help them create a storage system for their finished furniture. Let the collaboration be part of the ritual, not just the play.
The Gift of Being Seen
Here’s the truth: our children don’t need perfect parents or elaborate toys. They need to feel seen, known, and loved in the language they understand.
When my son asked “Mum, are you in love with me?” – he wasn’t doubting my love. He was checking that I see him. The real him. The one who plays in his particular way, who connects through his unique rhythms.
Play is where our children show us who they are. And when we meet them there – really meet them, in the way they need – the connection deepens, the confidence grows, and the question stops needing to be asked.
What did you discover about your child?
Maybe you already knew. Maybe this just gave you words for what you’d been sensing. Or maybe you’re surprised – perhaps you’ve been offering quality time when they’ve been craving words of affirmation.
There’s no judgment here. We’re all doing our best. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder to look at play through their eyes, not ours.
With warmth,
Bobby