February 11, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
Out of the mouths of babes: Pelican students talk about love
Out of the mouths of babes: Pelican students talk about love
By Kayla Thomason-
The River News asked students in JoEllen Lieck's kindergarten class about what they think love is and how people show it.
"I think love is helping my little sister who broke her arm - she is only 3 (years old) - getting her toy down," said June Chiamulera.
June said her parents show one another love by going on trips.
"When we get to go up to (my cousin) Jody's and they get to go somewhere else, like Hawaii," she said.
The month of February is special to June and not just because she gets to show how much she cares about people.
"What I like about Valentine's Day is my birthday is after it (Feb. 19)," she said.
June and her peers created Valentine's boxes to hold goodies and cards.
June's classmate, Abe Gretzinger, said "giving someone a gift" shows love. He said his parents show love for one another when they give each other a hug.
He likes to receive Valentine's cards and candy - chocolate is his favorite.
Abe likes to spend Valentine's Day at his grandmother's house.
Kali Skubal said "love is when you help someone clean the basement."
Her parents show one another love by helping each other, she said.
Kali and her peers are making "Love Monsters" for the special day.
"He has a bow and heart eyes and he has white cheeks," Kali said of her monster.
She likes getting candy on Valentine's Day. Her favorite treat is Tootsie Rolls.
Tripp Zoncki's idea of love is helping those who can't do something.
"If someone can't read you can read a book to them," he said.
Tripp said his parents show love by "giving each other hugs."
His "Love Monster" has four heart-shaped eyes.
"It has four eyes and the body is pink," Tripp said.
He enjoys Valentine's Day and is expecting a little gift.
"I get a Valentine's stuffed animal," he said.
He is hoping to get an elephant.
Vivian Lamers shows her love for her parents by helping out around the house.
"(Love is) doing the dishes for your mom and dad," she said. "I love showing love (by giving people hugs)."
Vivian's parents express love by being each other's support system, she said.
"If they need help and someone is at work they can come home," she said.
Kelly Kaster's first-grade class has also been gearing up for the holiday of love.
For Sadie Jones, Valentine's Day is more than just cards and candy.
"(Valentine's Day is) a time where you can spend with your family and friends," she said.
Sadie said her parents show love when they don't fight with each other.
Sadie likes to get a lot of Valentine's cards and dark chocolate.
Dylan Shefveland also thinks Valentine's Day is for kind actions.
"I think (Valentine's Day) is for doing things for people that's very nice," he said.
Like Sadie and the other children, Dylan loves it when he gets candy. Hershey's is his favorite.
Piper Kaplan also equates love and Valentine's Day with kindness.
"I think (love) is if someone gets hurt and you want to help them and you help them up and tell a grown-up," she said.
Piper's parents show love by giving each other gifts, she said.
Her favorite thing about Valentine's Day is spending it with loved ones.
"I like to sing Valentine's Day songs with my family and friends," Piper said. "I would like to share that some people need to help others. If they don't that means they're not doing the right thing on Valentine's Day."
Valentine's Day celebrations at school may have changed since most readers were in class.
"We try to limit the celebrations to about an hour for each holiday," said Denise Check, speech and language therapist at Pelican Elementary School.
Children get to work on Valentine's Day projects, which vary between grades and classrooms.
Some fun projects include Valentine's Bingo, counting or graphing Valentine's candy, opening cards,
and munching on healthy treats.
"We try to make a lot of the activities academic-related as well," Check said. "Sometimes we get the bags of the conversation hearts and the teachers may have the kids graph how many colors there are, they might have them do a predicting activity where they have to predict how many colors, which color has the most."
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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