If you will show me compassion, then I may learn to care as you do. —from "When I Am Frightened," Hymn 1012 in Singing the Journey

The theme of this session is "Chalice Children are all different, but we care about one another and celebrate together." Over the preceding three sessions (25, 26, and 27), using a third party—teddy bears—has helped the children talk in a nonthreatening way about their fears and discover strategies for lessening their own fears and helping to take care of others in a scary situation. This session engages children in stories and activities about friendship and caring as Teddy Bear Month concludes with a celebration.

Remember that preschool children vary greatly in their social development. The youngest children may still engage in parallel play; four year olds may be learning to express their feelings; kindergarteners may be more willing to conform to the goals and norms established by parents, teachers, church leaders, and society.

Note: Before this session, ask families to have their children bring a favorite stuffed bear or another animal to each session in this unit. See Session 25, Leader Resource 1, Teddy Bear Month Invitation.

Goals

This session will help preschoolers:

• Learn how to make the Chalice Children group feel like a caring place
• Feel a sense of belonging to and identity with a Unitarian Universalist congregation.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Experience the sense of community and belonging they have developed in Chalice Children and appreciate their own role in creating it
• Acknowledge the friends they have met
• Feel connected to their UU identity and the congregation.