Your children are always being discipled by something.
Their friends. Their favorite TV shows. The books they read. The culture around them. Whether we realize it or not, little hearts and minds are constantly being shaped. That’s why God has given parents such an important role: to intentionally disciple our children and teach them the ways of the Lord.
And every February, we’re handed a golden opportunity!
Valentine’s Day fills stores, schools, and screens with talk of “love.” This season gives us a natural moment to pause and ask: What kind of love are our children learning about? And even better — who is the Author of love?
This is the perfect time to teach our toddlers:
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God’s character — He is love
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What love is — as defined by Scripture
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How we can love God and love others
Let’s talk about how to introduce these big truths to little hearts.
God’s Character: God Is Love
When children are young, the way they first understand God often sticks with them for life. If they grow up seeing Him as distant, angry, or hard to please, those ideas can be difficult to undo later.
But Scripture tells us something beautiful: God is love.
Teaching toddlers from the beginning that God is loving, near, gracious, and merciful shapes a foundation of trust. He is not far away. He is not keeping a record of wrongs. He is full of compassion and kindness toward His children.
When little ones learn that love is part of God’s very nature, they begin to see Him not just as Creator — but as a safe and loving Father, and what a gift that is!
What Is Love?
Our culture has a lot to say about love. But Scripture defines it clearly.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.
And God showed the greatest love of all: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
*For a clear walkthrough of the Gospel, check out our Romans Road scripture memory cards and our blog post on why scripture memorization is so important!
Love, according to the Bible, is not just a feeling. It is a sacrificial way of life — choosing others before ourselves.
And let’s be honest… that is a tall order for us, and a tall order for toddlers.
In their natural sinful state, little ones love themselves first. They want what they want, right now. Sharing is hard. Waiting is hard. Thinking about others is hard.
That’s exactly why early training matters so much.
When toddlers begin practicing small acts of kindness — sharing a toy, giving a hug, helping a sibling — they are learning habits that will serve them for a lifetime. These early seeds of discipleship grow as they mature. It takes practice to turn from self and to turn to others. So when Philippians 2 talks about counting others as more significant than yourselves, and looking to the interests of others, that doesn’t just happen over night! It’s a lifetime of practice, habit training, and most of all the work of the Holy Spirit.
Learning to Love God and Love Others
Loving God and loving others does not come naturally — for children or adults. It must be taught, modeled, and practiced.
That’s why we created the 1 John 3:16 Love Lesson Plan — to help parents guide meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about love. The lesson introduces biblical truth in simple language, hands-on activities, and gentle discussion prompts that meet toddlers right where they are.
Our hope is that this lesson is just the starting point — that the conversations continue long after the lesson plan is finished.
Here are a few simple ways to extend the lesson at home:
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Create a “Ways We Can Love Others” poster
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Brainstorm acts of kindness together
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Check them off as you complete them
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Set a family goal: How many acts of love can we do this week?
And when you reach your goal? Celebrate with a Love Party — movies, popcorn, sweet treats, and fun family games.
Making love tangible helps little ones understand that following Jesus shows up in everyday life. The celebration at the end shows them in a tangible way that loving others is fun and does bring joy, even when it might feel hard to do in the moment.
Let’s Redeem the Season
This season is known for hearts, cards, and candy — but we can use it to point our children to the truest love of all.
The love that comes from God.
The love that sent Jesus.
The love that teaches us how to live.
Let’s take this Valentine’s season and teach our little ones what Love really is.
If you’d like a simple, Scripture-centered way to guide these conversations at home, check out our 1 John 3:16 Love Lesson Plan, created especially for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s designed to help you disciple little hearts with confidence and joy.