As Valentine’s Day fills classrooms with cards, treats, and celebrations, it’s the perfect opportunity to teach kids about the deeper meaning of love. Beyond chocolates and crafts, love is about kindness, compassion, and care for others. This holiday can be a chance to help kids understand how to show love in meaningful, everyday ways.
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
1. Love Through Friendship
Valentine’s Day can highlight the importance of being a good friend. Teach your child how small acts of kindness—like sharing a toy, giving a compliment, or including someone in a game—can show love in the form of friendship. Remind them that their love and kindness flow from the love God shows us every day.
2. Look Out for the Left Out
Classroom parties often involve exchanging cards and treats, but these moments can leave some kids feeling overlooked. Encourage your child to notice if a classmate seems left out and take the initiative to include them, offer a kind word, or make them feel special. Teaching children to see and care for others is a powerful lesson in love. This reflects God’s love for everyone and teaches your child to see others the way He does.
3. Love Doesn’t Need Reciprocation
Help kids understand that true love and kindness don’t come with strings attached. Giving a Valentine to every classmate or offering help to a sibling is not about receiving something in return——it’s about reflecting God’s unconditional love.
4. The Power of Small Gestures
Love doesn’t have to be big or flashy. A thoughtful note, a warm smile, or simply saying “thank you” can make someone’s day. Teach your child how small gestures of kindness can add up to a lot of love in their classroom, home, and community.
5. Practicing Empathy
Valentine’s Day is a great time to talk about empathy. Encourage your child to ask, “How might that person feel?” or “What could I do to make them feel better?” By practicing empathy, kids learn to connect with others in meaningful ways, reflecting God’s love through understanding and compassion.
6. Love is a Daily Practice
Remind kids that while Valentine’s Day is special, love isn’t limited to one day. It’s something we show every day through our words, actions, and how we treat others. Share examples of how God’s love for us inspires the love we show to others, whether through patience, forgiveness, or simple acts of kindness.
Valentine’s Day is more than just hearts and chocolates—it’s an opportunity to teach children about love that is rooted in faith. By focusing on these lessons and the truth of 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us,” you’ll help your child grow into someone who spreads God’s love to those around them, not just on Valentine’s Day, but all year long.
