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It's February -- time for valentines?
Filed under: Big Kids, Day Care & Education
Once again, St. Valentine's Day is upon us. I won't lie to you -- once I got past the age when kids were required to bring valentines for everyone in the class or else bring none at all, I don't think I ever got any, so I might just be a little bitter. But still, I'm not sure I see the point of passing out cards bearing false sentiments.I'm not saying Jared doesn't like anyone in his class -- quite the opposite, in fact -- but he shows that everyday by playing with them, sharing with them, and just generally being a friend to everyone. Do these valentines, with a pre-printed, generic message really add any value? What do they learn from giving or getting them?
On the other hand, it is something kids do and I don't want him to feel left out; perhaps it is more about a social tradition than any meaningful expression of emotion. I certainly don't want Jared to feel like an outcast. And so he is bringing valentines to school for all his classmates. I'm not convinced, however, that it's the right thing to do.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-14-2008 @ 12:24PM
Amanda said...Roger, I never really put that much thought into valentines and kids. I think it is cute and a fun time to just do something nice for your friends. My daughter is merely three and I bought valentine cards that just had a one liner about your my friend or something equally cheesy and made little gift bags with candies in them. I don't really think it needs to be a huge, emotionally sentimental deal! I also give my best friend a card every year because she is like a sister to me, and espeically this year since her hubby is over in Iraq right now and she's home alone with three babies.
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2-14-2008 @ 12:51PM
SKL said...I remember Valentine's day as a time when we gave and got lots of "stuff" (so many different valentines). It was a purely materialistic grab moment, like getting a new box of 64 crayons, creating a kind of happiness that only a small child would understand.
Don't think too much about kiddy valentines. They don't mean anything and that's OK.
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2-14-2008 @ 12:55PM
Nicola said...My husband hates the fact that we have involved children in Valentine's Day. He's British and very much against the way that we Americans "do" holidays. This one really irks him. He would agree that it is utterly ridiculous to send small children to school with a bag full of cards which bear silly slogans and trite sentiments of love. If there are no school rules about giving one to each child, then there will be obvious heartbreak for those who are not "chosen". If there are rules which require a card for each child, then it just becomes totally false and pointless.
Small children are not able to handle such big concepts. Romantic love is not something that should involve them. I have to agree with him on this one. Valentine's Day is not about friendship, it is about love. Involving our children is entirely self-serving. We think its "cute", "sweet", and "fun". They don't understand, but darn it, they like the candy!
My son's school does not allow any cards or candy or gifts. He sent cards by post to his most special friends. Just for fun. He was pretty sure that he was sending them birthday invitations (his b'day is next week), so again, it was more for me than for him.
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2-14-2008 @ 1:38PM
queenoqueens said...If there's ever a time one should be able to just do something for the sheer fun of it, without overthinking it, it would be childhood. My kids loves every single holiday and jumps at the chance of doing the traditional rituals.
If a child genuinely doesn't like doing Valentine cards, then perhaps it's best to skip it. But if they enjoy it, why not? And as for having to give one to everyone, I think it's a great lesson in getting along with everyone. You can care for and show love for people, simply because they are part of your community. Or if not, at least it reminds them to be considerate of others feelings.
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