At Davebrook Schools & College, Valentine’s Day is about more than just red hearts; it is about teaching our children how to love themselves, love God, and stay safe.
This year, under the inspiring theme “I Am Becoming,” we took our little ones on a journey of transformation. We combined the classic story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar with vital lessons on personal safety and spiritual growth.
We redefined the meaning of love for our young learners. We taught them that love is not just a feeling, but an action shown through: Sharing, Respect, Gratitude. The day ended with joy as the children exchanged gifts, practised sharing, and celebrated their journey of “becoming” beautiful children, both inside and out.
The Story: From Caterpillar to Butterfly
We began the day with a storytelling session featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The children listened intently to the tale of the small egg that hatched into a very hungry caterpillar.
They followed his journey as he ate through apples, pears, cake, and ice cream—learning that eating too much gave him a stomach ache! But after eating a healthy green leaf and resting in a cocoon, he emerged as a beautiful butterfly.
The Spiritual Lesson: “I Am a New Creation”
We used this story to teach a powerful truth: God Creates Beautiful Things. Just as the caterpillar transforms, we taught the children that:
- God Helps Us Grow: Just like the caterpillar grew little by little, God helps us grow taller, wiser, and kinder every day.
- God Cares for Us: When the caterpillar felt sick, he found a green leaf. In the same way, God cares for us when we are tired or sad.
- God Changes Us for Good: The most important lesson was transformation. We explained that God can help us change from being “naughty” to being kind, and from being selfish to sharing.
Safety First: The “No-Touch” Rule
In the spirit of loving and protecting ourselves, we held a crucial session on Personal Safety and Boundaries.
We explained the meaning of “Private Parts” in age-appropriate language, emphasizing that these areas must be protected. To help the message stick, we sang the Safety Song together:
“What will you do to your private part? I will police and cover private part. I will tell mummy, if you try to touch. I will tell daddy, if you try to touch.”
This song empowers our children to speak up and sets a clear boundary for their safety.
Defining True Love
Finally, we redefined the meaning of love for our young learners. We taught them that love is not just a feeling, but an action shown through: Sharing, Respect, Gratitude. The day ended with joy as the children exchanged gifts, practised sharing, and celebrated their journey of “becoming” beautiful children, both inside and out.