Tapestry of Faith: Wonderful Welcome: A Program for Children Grades K-1

Introduction

One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night.

— Margaret Mead

This session's intangible gift is sharing positive qualities such as kindness, respect and care with the people in our families. Although we do not usually get to choose them, some of our best friends can be the people we live with.

The children will explore what it means to share in our families. What do we share, and how? What do we give one another that is tangible and what do we give one another that is not?

The Gift of Kindness was introduced in Session 4. Kindness is revisited in this session, along with respect and caring. The focus is on our relationships with the people we spend the most time with — the people in our families.

For the purpose of this session, help children define their "family" as the people who live with and take care of them. The group may include children who live in small families, large extended families, two families, or children who do not have a permanent family home. Be aware that there may be children who have not experienced kindness in their families. Listen carefully. Talk to your religious educator if you observe that a child's words or actions might indicate a problem at home.

Goals

This session will:

  • Guide participants to consider the intangible gifts they bring to and receive from members of their families
  • Explore ways to share intangible gifts within our families
  • Apply the first and second Unitarian Universalist Principles — the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations —to our family life.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Experience a story about kindness in a family
  • Learn a Mandarin Chinese way to say "kindness" and hear about a New Year tradition in Chinese culture
  • Articulate their own family structure
  • Identify ways they give and receive kindness, respect and care in their families
  • Create a picture to remind family members to treat each other with kindness, respect, and caring.