Love comes in many shapes and sizes. It is a complicated topic that is hard enough for adults to understand. However, there are a few ideas about love that many can agree on. Those ideas give us an opportunity to share valuable lessons with children.
The Golden Rule
Everyone learns the “Golden Rule” early in life: totreat others as you would like to be treated. A key ability to that practice is empathy and considering how others may feel based on your actions.
Volunteering is a great way to show children the impact of their actions on others. By volunteering at local organizations like food kitchens, homeless shelters, animal shelters or at other community projects, children are able to experience how their actions can positively affect others.
Love as Kindness
Random acts of kindness are not limited to friends and family. It is important to show children that kindness is a form of love. Random acts of kindness can communicate the importance of love to others. Involve children in acts of kindness and help them create their own ideas to do for others.
Some examples could include buying presents for others or offering to help someone in need.
The Love Between Family
The love between parents and their children, or family members, is very strong. Children likely do not understand the strength of that love which makes it important for parents to communicate the emotion. Telling children you love them and why you love them will help build self-confidence and a stronger bond with parents.
Accepting Everyone
No two people on our planet are the same. It’s the reality that everyone comes to understand at some point, but children may not have a grasp on that concept. Love can be found between those who are similar and different from each of us.
Take opportunities, like Black History Month in February, to show children how important those of other genders, ethnicities, religions or other attributes have been throughout history.
