Five love languages to give the perfect Mother’s Day gift

Joanne Brook-Smith

9 months ago

Two in three Brits don’t know what to buy their Mum for Mother’s Day
One in 10 (12%) don’t buy their Mum a gift or card for Mother’s Day
NEXT partners with Jessica Alderson to give gifting advice based on the five love languages

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, many people will be making plans to celebrate the special women in their life. When it comes to gifting however, two in three Brits (67%) struggle to know what to buy for Mother’s Day.

Most people simply opt for a card (57%) and flowers (52%) as a standard gift, but retailer NEXT wanted to help gift mums with meaningful Mother’s Day presents they actually want, by matching them with gifts as told by their love language.

The five love languages, defined by marriage counsellor Dr Gary Chapman, are five different ways of showing love to someone and the concept has gained popularity in part thanks to 80.7m TikTok views for ‘5 love languages’ related content.

Whilst most often associated with romantic love, knowing how friends and family members feel loved can help when trying to find the perfect gift. Three in five Brits (60%) admit that they don’t know their mum’s love language, so the team at NEXT have partnered with Jessica Alderson, relationship expert at So Syncd to help all those in a pre-Mother’s Day gifting panic.

The five love languages are:

Quality time
Words of affirmation
Acts of service
Physical touch
Receiving gifts

Below, Jessica explains how to work out which language your mum relates to and offers suggestions of what gifts she might appreciate the most this Mother’s Day.

Quality Time: Spending time together in thoughtful and meaningful ways

“Quality Time is the love language that emphasises spending quality time with your loved ones in a thoughtful and engaging way. This can include things like going out for dinner, taking a walk together, having meaningful conversations, or simply snuggling up together to watch a movie. Quality Time can also be used to show love by taking an interest in the activities your loved ones enjoy and participating in them together.

“People whose primary love language is Quality Time feel most loved when they receive undivided attention and have meaningful interactions with their loved ones. So put your phone away, turn off the TV, and focus on spending quality time as a family. This can be especially important for mothers who often have busy schedules and may not get much quality time with their families.

“For Mother’s Day, consider buying your mum a gift that encourages spending more quality time together, such as a family board game, tickets to an event that you can attend together or some new wine glasses and a cheese board for a cute night in together.”

Words of Affirmation: Receiving love through words and verbal expressions

“Words of Affirmation is the love language that focuses on verbal expressions of love and appreciation. This love language involves using kind, encouraging, and positive words to make your loved one feel valued. It can include things like compliments, handwritten notes, or even just telling your loved one how much you appreciate them.

“People whose primary love language is Words of Affirmation feel most loved when they receive verbal expressions of affection. It’s important to remember that these words need to be sincere and genuine rather than just empty compliments. So take the time to think about what you truly appreciate and admire about your mother and express those thoughts in a heartfelt way.

“For Mother’s Day, a thoughtful card will mean a lot to someone whose love language is Words of Affirmation. You can also consider giving your mother a personalised gift, such as a photo album with heartfelt messages written next to each picture or a bouquet of flowers with a handwritten note attached.”

Acts of Service: Feeling loved when helped with daily tasks

One in ten Brits (12%) said they don’t buy their mum anything for Mother’s Day, but if her love language is Acts of Service there are ways to make her feel loved without having to spend a penny.

“Acts of Service is the love language that involves feeling love through acts of kindness and helpfulness. This love language isn’t about grand gestures but rather small everyday acts that make your loved one’s life easier and more enjoyable. This could include things like helping with household chores, running errands, or making meals for your loved one.

“People whose primary love language is Acts of Service feel most loved when they receive help and assistance with daily tasks. The beauty behind Acts of Service is that little acts can make a big difference; it’s often said that actions speak louder than words, which is the perfect phrase to describe this love language.

“For Mother’s Day, consider giving your mum a day off from her usual responsibilities and taking over for the day. You can help with a specific task that she has been putting off or make her favourite meal to show your appreciation and love through Acts of Service. You could also buy her some useful household gadgets like a fancy coffee machine to make her daily tasks easier and more enjoyable.”

Physical Touch: Receiving love physically, such as through hugs or hand-holding

“Physical Touch is the love language that focuses on receiving affection through physical interaction. This type of love language can include things like hugs, kisses, holding hands, or even just sitting close to each other.

“People whose primary love language is Physical Touch feel most loved when they receive physical expressions of affection. Physical Touch is also incredibly emotional in nature and can convey more than words ever could for some people. It can be used to show support during difficult times, celebrate successes, and let your loved ones know you are there for them.

“For Mother’s Day, consider giving your mother the gift of physical touch by taking the time to hug her and tell her how much she means to you. People who appreciate Physical Touch are often sensory individuals, so you could also buy her a cosy heated blanket or soft pillows for some extra physical comfort.”

Receiving Gifts: Receiving love through tangible objects

“Receiving Gifts is the love language that focuses on receiving tangible presents from a loved one. This type of love language can be expressed through buying thoughtful presents, creating homemade gifts, or even just giving small tokens of appreciation.

“People whose primary love language is Receiving Gifts feel most loved when they receive physical symbols of love and thoughtfulness. When giving gifts, it’s important to remember that it’s not about the monetary value but rather the thought and effort put into choosing a gift. It’s simply finding something that shows you’ve been thinking of them.

“For Mother’s Day, consider giving your mum a gift that is meaningful to her, whether it’s something she has been wanting or a small gesture that holds sentimental value. You could buy her new slippers if she’s said it’s been cold recently, give her a photo frame with a memorable picture of the two of you or find her a perfume which smells of her favourite flowers. It’s not about the size or cost of the gift, but rather the thought and effort put into making your mum feel loved and appreciated on her special day.”

NEXT have put together some gift suggestions based on Jessica’s advice, with options for each love language.