As February arrived, our School Age 1 group began looking forward to a special day — Valentine’s Day. When the children saw educator Sree carrying a bag filled with new materials, their curiosity immediately sparked. “What is that for?” they asked eagerly, already guessing that something exciting was about to happen. Before beginning the activity, Sree invited everyone to gather on the carpet for group time so we could talk together.
Sree started by asking, “This weekend, there is something special coming up. Who knows what it is?” Without hesitation, Praise excitedly responded, “It’s Valentine’s Day!” When asked what Valentine’s Day means, almost every hand went up. The children waited patiently to be chosen, showing respect and eagerness to participate. Braya shared, “It’s a day to celebrate love.” Sree added that Valentine’s Day is not only about love, but also about friendship and kindness, and that we can show love every single day; not just on one special day.
Our discussion naturally moved into how we can be kind to one another. The children impressed Sree with their thoughtful answers. Miracle said, “By sharing.” Moyosola added, “By not fighting with each other.” Tarasha shared, “By helping.” Each child had their own meaningful idea, and it was beautiful to see how clearly, they understood the importance of kindness.
During our discussion, something very special happened. Without being asked, Praise stood up, walked to the board, and wrote, “Valentine’s is almost here,” carefully drawing a heart beside her words. She wrote it independently and confidently. It was a proud moment that showed her initiative, writing skills, and excitement for the celebration. After our group time, a card-making activity was introduced. The children were thrilled to see the papers, stickers, coloured pencils, and markers. They began discussing who they would make their cards for: moms, dads, and friends were the most popular choices. Before starting, we talked about sharing materials and waiting patiently for stickers. The children showed responsibility and cooperation as they worked.
As they created their cards, Sree offered help with spelling when needed. Tarasha called me and asked for help writing “mom,” but before I could respond, Braya kindly said, “I can help you. I know how to write mom.” She slowly spelled the word aloud and supported her friend. Soon after, she even helped her write “dad.” It was a wonderful example of peer learning, leadership, and kindness in action.
Creativity filled the room. Some children folded their papers vertically to create traditional cards, while others folded them horizontally so they could write longer messages. They shared ideas, suggested decorations, and supported one another while still showing independence in their work. Even when I assisted them, they confidently took ownership of their creations.
At the end of the activity, each child proudly shared their card with friends and showed them to their educators with big smiles before carefully placing it in their backpacks. It was clear that this experience meant something special to them. Through this Valentine’s Day experience, the children strengthened their language and literacy skills, practiced patience and cooperation, demonstrated leadership, and deepened their understanding of kindness and friendship. Our School Age 1 group continues to show a strong love for creative expression, especially through paper crafts and art. Most importantly, they reminded us that love and kindness are not just for one day. They are values we can practice every day in our classroom community.
