throw love around like confetti

At times it may seem as though humanity as a whole wants to spread hate and fear more than it wants to spread love. Just watching the news and other media clearly reflects this. We should all strive to focus on how to promote love and acceptance instead of hate. This is vital for our future generations to live in a brighter and more loving world.

Humans by nature are constantly on the pursuit to be loved, however, according to Psychology Today, “most of us fail to recognize that we have a parallel need: the need to love and care for others”. It’s important to note that while the recipient of a loving gesture will be benefited, the perpetrator will also be benefited as equally.

So this begs one to wonder if children are alienated and not shown love, can it make them angry and more susceptible to feelings of hatred towards others? Amy J.L. Baker, Ph.D. wrote in Psychology Today that the word “alienated” was used in a 1986 article, however, she thinks it more specifically refers to “the child’s disaffection from the caregiver”. This goes back to the importance of humans instinctual nature of wanting to be loved. The more we show love, the more others will know how to love back and want to reciprocate loving feelings toward others.

According to Science Magazine, Mark Nielsen conducted a study to see if children over imitate adults by utilizing a box that had multiple ways the child could open the box efficiently. The results of his study showed that children mimicked the adult’s behavior, even though the adult purposely showed them the silliest and most inefficient way possible to open the box.

The results of Mark Nielsen’s study “supported the idea that over imitation is a fundamentally human, cross-cultural phenomenon, one that may be critical to the transmission of human culture”. If children from ages 2 to 13 are imitating adults to this magnitude, I would argue that children will mimic our behaviors and actions towards others, whether it be loving or hateful. In the Science Magazine article, cognitive scientist Laura Schulz stated in regards to Nielsen’s study, “I think this is good, robust evidence that children around the world treat adults as rational and imitate them even if they don’t understand what the adult is doing—especially if they don’t know what the adult is doing.”

We are such huge role models for our future generation that it’s important for us to choose our words wisely and focus around words of love and compassion to those around us and ourselves, especially around our children, siblings, nieces/nephews, and those looking up to you. By choosing to be more loving and kind to others, as well as ourselves, children will be more likely to follow in the same attitude of spreading and receiving love.

I don’t think anyone has the answer of how to create a more loving world, however, I do know if humans instinctively want to be loved, and want to show love and care for others, showering our children and those around us with love can only help the cause and affect them in a positive way. Maybe if we shower those around us with love, it will be infectious and children will want to mimic our behaviors and beliefs want to spread love themselves. Let those around you love you back and shower you with love because as mentioned above, to love and care for others is an equally important human need. So, throw love around like confetti and don’t forget to sprinkle some on yourself as well!

There are so many adorable books that show examples of love. A few of our favorites include Love is You & Me. by Monica Sheehan which helps us remember the importance of love through the fun relationship of a dog and mouse, Based on the Song by Bob Marley, One Love adapted by Cedella Marley showcases the amazing things that can be accomplished when a community comes together, Consider Love by Sandra Boynton is a lovely board book that successfully illustrates the many types of love through the use of adorable illustrations and rhymes.

Also, for great examples of books that can help teach self-love please check out our earlier blog post BElieve in YOUrself.

Please enjoy this free Tot Tails coloring page to help share this message with your child.

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