What Kids Have to Say About Love
What Kids Have to Say About Love
February marks the month of love, a time to celebrate Valentine’s Day and remember love, while emphasizing the importance of love in our lives. With Valentine’s Day, love, admiration, friendships, affection, and self-love spotlight this month, why not incorporate what our children have to say about it all. Because as the saying goes, kids do say the darndest things …
I had the pleasure of interviewing 12 kiddos ranging in age from 2-17 this past Valentine’s Day. The questions posed to them were:
What is love?
How do you know when two people love each other?
How do you love or take care of yourself?
Beginning with the first question “What is Love?”, the interviewees took their time to ponder, articulate, and express their answers both verbally and through their body language. Beginning with newly 2-year-old Cooper, when posed the question in between basement hot laps on his shiny Radio Flyer Deluxe Hot Rod Bike, he throws his leg off the bike and without a single hesitation bear hugs his mama as if love is something he absolutely comprehends. Toddlers Marin (age 3) and Kella (age 4) concur that love is visual, clear, and expressive in emphasizing love being a heart, giving people huggies, and making others happy. Moving right along to our latency aged little ones, Simone (age 6), Sarah (age 6), Colin (age 7), and Mara (age 9). Simone embarks with the brilliant statement that “love does mean different things for different people you know.” All four of these littles commented that love is “my family, my friends, people loving or liking each other, people showing kindness towards others, and distinctly knowing just how much you like your parents.” Luke (age 15) concludes with, “Love is when two people have a bond that allows both of them to be themselves, knowing that they won’t be judged for who they are.”
Moving along with the second question, “How do you know when two people love each other?”, the interviewees had a much easier time narrating and expanding upon these answers. When posed the question, newly 4-year-old Easton Tymber began to slowly turn his body, tilt his head, enhance the glimmer and shine in his eyes, while contagiously smiling, and ultimately stating, “there is a big heart between the two people,” and then immediately began to inch and scoot closer and closer to his mama. Simone (age 6) can concur that love between people is all about the “sparkly eyes,” adding, “when I love someone I smile the funny smile with the big eyes. When I give my dad a funny smile he always gives me a funny smile back; it is like a special smile.” Luke (age 15) adds, “People show love by working together to better their relationship.” Colin (age 7) comments that “two people that love each other are usually together all the time. They can even write letters to each other.” Lastly, Sarah (age 6) adds, “We give people we love chocolate.”
Lastly, the question, How do you love or take care of yourself? amounted in a plethora of perspectives. Greg (age 17) pinpoints self-love as “being honest, disciplined, and appreciative of yourself,” adding, “it is also important to take action in order to make yourself happy.” Sam (age 2) touches upon self-discipline by stating, “I can walk and talk. I brush my hair and I brush my teeth and I wash my face.” Colin (age 7) highlights self-appreciation by focusing on exercise as a way to love yourself. Keenan (age 13) sums up self-love in stating, “I love and care for myself by eating healthy (most of the time), working out, not hurting or criticizing myself, and being truthful to me.” In closing, Kella (age 4) states, “I give myself a big hug” and Easton (age 4) just begins to laugh and laugh, painting the picture that humor is life’s remedy.
From the brilliance of our kiddos: give bear hugs, make others happy, show kindness, scoot closer to people, show others the sparkly eye, give people lots of chocolate, practice self-discipline/honesty/appreciation, and don’t ever forget to laugh.
Laura Widger is a NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience in the field of emotional wellness and mental health. She currently works for CCA-Connecting Communities in Action and specializes in trauma healing with children and adults. She lives in Cattaraugus County with her husband, children, and German short haired dog. Laura personally and professionally strives to promote internal self leadership and the discovery of true genuineness and balance within.