Premature attachments and boundaries

[playfelt]

I think the key here is not to dwell on the word love and never to use it back to the child. I wouldn't even say I like you but instead something like I think you are special too or something similar - sort of noncommittal while still being nice.

Please I wish people would post the age of the child they are enquiring about because this situation would be tackled very differently for a 2 year old as it would a 5 year old.

If you are really concerned then you should speak to the parents, mention the incident and how it made you feel a little uncomfortable because you have always trained your own children to reserve the word love for just family. That you are flattered that she is happy in your home and thinks of you as special in her life but that you think now that the child is venturing out of the home environment and will be around other adults that it would be a good idea to start teaching her when it is ok to say I love you and when she should say something else like I think you are nice.