Well, with my large number of kids, I try to schedule some one on one time so that the one on the receiving end of that alone time knows, that they have my undevided attention.  This next month before school starts back up, I am taking just my two older kids on a mini road trip to their grandparents house in California.  They know that it is coming and I have already made arrangements for their younger siblings to be with their dad for the weekend.  I can't wait for it to get here. 
Shauna- mom of 3girlz2boyz

I get little things like a pack of gum, or a trinket, or something she's asked for (within reason) and save them for when she does something nice, or has done well at school.

She seems to appreciate the "unexpected" surprise. Notes are really nice too, because it shows you care without attaching a monetary value to it.

I, too, recently put a love note in my daughter's lunch box. She can't read, but she had her teacher read it to her. She was so thrilled that she won't let me throw the note away. She wants to see the same note in her lunchbox every day.

Another thing I do for my kids is I take them to thier favorite restaraunt, Joe's Diner (on S. Virginia and Neil Road - right across the street from where Shopko used to be). I figured that they were entranced with the place because it looked like a big metal balloon, the fifties vibe, or because they thought the jukeboxes at each table were cool. Then I realized they loved the place because of the tall strawberry milkshakes with fancy whipped topping, and especially because to them it meant that mommy was so pleased with them that she took them to thier favorite eatery. I've never seen young kids so well-behaved as when I take them to the place where they get to eat thier favorite foods.