Our world has been turned upside down the past few years, a world-wide pandemic, riots, political strife, so much discord and hatred has been seen, heard and witnessed.  Maria Montessori herself, knew war and hatred in her life during World War II.   She believed that we could change the world through our children.  We just needed to teach the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.”  Sound too simple???  Not really.  Just think about it, if we all treated one another with love and respect.  What a different place our world would be!

So how do we do that?  First we have to live it daily.  What do our children hear us say each day to each other?  The tone of our voice should express warmth, kindness and compassion.  I don’t believe that our young children need to hear of all the negative things going on in the world.  It scares them and makes them feel insecure.  So turn off the news network and instead play music that is smoothing and calm in our home and classrooms.  

We can talk about loving others and caring but love is really action!  Let’s be intentional with assisting our children to love those around them!  A basic Montessori philosophy is that children learn by doing not just watching.  So during February, the month of love, I am going to challenge you and the children in your life to participate in acts of kindness and love for others.

Of all things, love is the most potent. 

            --Maria Montessori

1.  Pin-prick hearts and create cards for shut-ins or a retirement community.  

2.  Bake heart cookies to give away to friends, neighbors or grandparents. 

3.  Pair children to work together on a project, clean an area or work a puzzle together.  Learning to get along and work with others is a wonderful gift to give a young child!

4.  “Friendship Bracelets.”  All the children love this simple activity.  I give a demonstration on how to create a bracelet from pony beads, little heart beads and then string them onto some elasticized string.  The child chooses a classmate to make the bracelet for and then he asks that child their favorite colors.  The giver continues to make the bracelet and then gives the bracelet away.  There is a little ceremony to the giving of the bracelet.  The child who creates the bracelet gives the recipient a hug and states, “Thank you for being my friend,’ or a simple, “I love having you as my friend.”  This becomes a work on our art shelf that can be chosen at any time.  Remember the bracelets are not for them but for others.

5.  Gather individual snacks such as chips, candy bars, pretzels and bottles of water for your local fire department and place in a laundry basket with cards from the children.  Then invite the firemen to your school to pick them up or families can deliver them.

6. Create children’s gift coupon books for parents!  These are fun for children and parents.  Some examples are:  This coupon is good for one gigantic hug!  These coupons are good for helping set the table, fold clothes, clean under my bed, or go to bed without getting up…..the sky is the limit. Children give the coupon book and parents redeem them from their children.

7.  Read books about friendship, kindness and caring.  Many wonderful concepts and character traits maybe taught through good literature.  Allow older children to read to the younger children.  After reading the books aloud, leave them in an area for the children to look through and remember the concepts taught.  The public library has a world of children’s music CDs, books, and videos all categorized by subject.  Dust off your library card!

8. Create a “Caring Jar.”  We have a jar that is labeled the “Thankful Jar,” in our classroom and this last month children came and told me what they were thankful for and they wrote it on a slip of paper.  The last day of the month we read them all.  For February we are creating a “Caring Jar.”  Inside of it we will write down things we have done or will do for others, then read them on show & tell day.

9.  Clay Art Refrigerator Magnets.  We purchased Sculpey Polymer Clay and magnetic buttons from a local craft store and using cookie cutters made refrigerator magnets to give away. 

Anything where the children can make or do something for others is the goal.  There are literally hundreds of different activities that adults and children can do together to show others acts of love and kindness.  It does take planning and time but the benefits are long lasting and leave a mark in the souls of our young beautiful children.