February Newsletter 2025

Teri Ann Cox
Executive Director of The Children’s Center

Dear Center Families,

I tend at this time of year, to write about how understanding the true meaning of love can be a challenging concept for young children to comprehend. While we shower our children with love from the moment they are born, teaching children about what love really entails ultimately helps them develop deeper values, such as empathy and kindness. In early education, there is not always a set plan to teach children to care about one another. I believe there needs to be. It is why “Be Kind” is one of our four program wide expectations.

Apart from role modeling with children, we incorporate lessons on kindness through age-appropriate activities that promote this essential concept. Given that it is February, of course one idea is creating or signing little valentines. Another is reading stories on love; children’s books are a natural go-to for explaining abstract concepts and emotions. Asking your child how they feel when they are kind will further extend their understanding and circle of compassion.  

As we teach our children about love and kindness, reaching beyond the family circle is important. We can do this by extending our actions not only to friends, but to those in the community who we do not know or may be different from us. Using respectful, and intentionally friendly words with people who are not like us, teaches children the idea that kindness matters.  

For our school age families, I would like to reference the letter you all received from the GWRSD superintendent and her team on January 17, that reaffirmed the district's commitment of a zero-tolerance stance against hate speech. Using the UN’s definition, hate speech is any form of communication that attacks individuals or groups based on who they are.

At The Children’s Center, we believe each child and every parent has personal worth and deserves our respect. Every child has value and is entitled to a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. As such, we must ensure that all aspects of their identity are embraced, including gender, race, ethnicity, family economics, mobility, language, disability, or religion. Let me also be clear: there is no place for hate here at the Center.

Young children learn to be kind, by being kind. As their language develops and their vocabulary flourishes, they may not understand the true meaning behind some of the words they use. Talking openly to your child not just about “bad, swear” words, but ones that are mean and hurtful is critical. Words like “fat” and “loser” have consequences. And by the time they are in Pre-K or have transitioned to kindergarten and beyond, proactively discussing how everyone belongs at school, regardless of their body type, their skin color, their gender identity, or their physical ability is equally important in the learning to “be kind” process.

Hate is nothing to play with. And I believe it has never been more important to build communities of care and belonging than now. We have that inclusive culture here at the Center, where everyone belongs. Let’s in partnership, extend the notion that kindness begets kindness, beyond our four walls.

With love and many thanks,

Teri Ann