A big question for any new Pre-School is how to respond to a child saying they love you? Eventually after a while of teaching your class your students will grow so close to you that they may start to tell you they love you. For children it's natural to tell the people they feel comfortable and safe with they love them. They may see you as much as they see their parents and for some children maybe more. A good teacher will make them feel cared about, safe, comfortable to try new things all the things their parents do so naturally the child starts to feel a lot of positive emotions towards you and that see that as love.
I don't blame any teacher for feeling uncomfortable and not knowing quite how to respond. It can be awkward for anybody. It may be best to decide what you plan to say before the situation arises. You don't want to be spluttering out a response with child eyes upon you.
I've read of a range of responses from saying thank you, to calling them a sweetie for saying that, to responding I love you too.
You need to decide yourself what you feel most comfortable with and say it with a positive tone. I now answer I love you too, I still feel a little uncomfortable, but I figure a few things. We don't know what the students home life is like. We don't know how often someone tells them they are loved. If they feel comfortable and loved by you maybe it's just best to reciprocate the feeling back and let them know they are loved.
Plus a Duke University study suggests that children who had an affectionate mother often grow up to be less anxious than those who had mothers who were less affectionate, possibly implying that affection, including from a “teacher” could be beneficial for a child’s development.
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