Love in Our Perspectives

Without much saying, the illustrations from "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch  clearly walk us through the meaning of love through the eyes of two characters, Mother and Child here. It is a beautiful and poignant book that has a deep emotional impact, especially in the context of early years. It portrays the unconditional love, ever-evolving nature of the relationship.

The above book, and our experiences, help us understand the difference between feelings and love itself. When the child keeps grows to be an individual with many questionable actions, the mother continuously showers her love toward her son with ways and a specific song to depict her unconditional love. 
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I love you forever
I like you for always
As long as I am living
My baby you'll be

The story raises questions in our minds - are love and feelings different? What are the differences between love and feelings? 

A serendipitous moment has arrived! After reading the above, we find another approach to reflect upon our experiences without looking at the book. We revisit the story by simply reaching to our own understanding of the situations, we are allowing it to resonate on a deeper level. It becomes a way for us to engage emotionally, rather than just passively following the storyline.

By reflecting on the story in this way, without needing to look at the book, we create an opportunity to personal connection. Each person may draw different meanings from the story based on our own experiences, emotions, and understanding of love. 

Pranssi, being a deep thinker, shares her thoughts to decipher the differences between love and feelings. She even walks us through her drawing on various feelings to make more understanding on circumstances.

It is interesting to note of Pranssi’s drawing. She associates feelings with colours, and this can be a natural part of how we begin to understand and express emotions. Colours can evoke certain emotional responses, and, in particular may relate these emotions to specific colours based on our experiences or cultural influences.

Drawing allows us to express these concepts visually and recognize that while feelings change, love is something that stays constant and is represented something stable.

Through Nora's sharing of words, it reassures that our worth is not dependent on how we feel at any given moment, and that love remains constant, even when feelings fluctuate.

Being aware of our environment, we choose to recycle our tissue boxes to learn about sustainability and the importance of repurposing items. Painting over the boxes based on our choices of colors enables us to enjoy this more sensory-friendly!

Another project that sounds like a fun and tactile one is threading ribbons or twines through holes on our heart-shaped cards. In this way we are practicing our fine motor skills, as well as explore creativity and expression. This project can also work well for learning concepts like love, care, and patience. 

The song we practice enables us to practice love and self-care. As we sing, we invite ourselves to make simple hand gestures or motions, like hugging ourselves or gently tapping our hearts. This can help us physically connect with the lyrics and the loving message.

An animation exploring the power of our voices in singing together could be a captivating and educational experience. It would visually demonstrate how singing can be a powerful tool for self-expression, emotional regulation, and connection. 

Valentine's Day becomes a celebration of connection, and shared joy. As we gather together, we sing familiar songs that bring warmth and a sense of unity: “The More We Get Together” and “I Made a Valentine for You” with its heart-shaped message of love—H-E-A-R-T. We sing with enthusiasm, some swaying gently, others clapping along, fully immersed in the rhythm of togetherness.

In our conversation time, we explore early mathematical concepts through literature and discussion. Today, we read “Who Has More?”, a book that invites us to observe, compare, and reason about quantity in an engaging way.

​As we read aloud, we actively participate, pointing at the illustrations and making predictions. Our curiosity and problem-solving skills shine through as we discuss our ideas with one another.

The handcrafted valentines, made with yarn and love, hold special meanings for each one of us.
Pranssi shares: “I will share it with my sister because she knows how to carry me and holds her hands to get me around.”
Fides: “I will share my heart with my mom.”

​Kai is happy to share his heart with mommy, dad, and Emy.

​Nora says: “I will share my heart with my mom and dad.”

This experience is about fostering empathy and emotional expression. Through music, and hands-on creativity, we embrace the spirit of Valentine's Day, celebrating the love and friendship that connect us all.

Once the paint has dried, it is time to choose which flowers to place and how to arrange them. Now, place the flowers into the box! Some of us choose soft colors whereas others prefer bright colors. We encourage ourselves to arrange the flowers in creative ways - perhaps in a line, or in a random burst of colors. It looks like small bouquets to place in each box.

With support, Luka joins us in shaping heart-shaped paper strings. He adds stickers to peel and attach on the hearts to give them personality. Other friends connect the individual hearts in a different way. We combine the hearts into a garland.

At Children & Friends, Valentine's Day transforms into an enchanting celebration of creativity and community. This year, we discover the joy of baking by crafting red velvet cookies together. The classroom buzzes with excitement as every child embraces the opportunity to work as a team and experience the thrill of creating something delicious from scratch.

Everyone has the chance to put ingredients in the bowl and mix it too, which not only allows us to learn about measurements and textures but also fosters a sense of independence and collaboration. Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, and a secret splash of love come together under careful guidance as each little chef takes part in the process.

Beyond the act of baking, this Valentine's Day learning experience provides valuable lessons in sharing and caring. This experience is a sweet reminder that every act of participation, no matter how small, builds a sense of belonging and togetherness.
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Our red velvet cookie adventure was more than just a baking activity—it is a heartwarming celebration of learning, creativity, and love. The joy and teamwork displays throughout the day makes it a memorable experience for everyone, reminding us all that the sweetest moments are those we share with others.

Kindest,
Children & Friends.