10 • MODULE FOUR: RELATIONSHIPS
ACTIVITY TWO
The Many Meanings of LOVE
Group check in as this is a continuation of Activity One.- Tell the children that they will be taking a deeper look at their relationships. Distribute the
Relationship Maps drawn in the previous session among them. Draw a line on the floor with
chalk; at one end draw three lines at right angles to the previous one, and at the other end
draw a line at right angles. Draw two lines in the middle. Ask the children who drew three lines
for a family member to stand at one end, those who drew two should stand in the middle and
the ones who drew only one line for a family member should stand at the other end. Repeat
this for friends and any other category mentioned. - If possible, make a group of the children who drew three lines for family and similarly for the
ones who drew two lines and one line, respectively. Ask the three groups to discuss among
themselves and then list or draw three qualities they want from their family and three
qualities they would like to give to their families.
You should have groups for family (these could be split into parents and brothers and sisters,
depending on how the children draw their communication maps), peers or friends, special
boyfriend or girlfriend. In case none of the children have any of these categories, the facilitator
should choose some children who are likely to discuss these qualities. If no one has a special
boy or girlfriend, one could replace the category with my future husband or my future wife. This
opportunity should also be used to discuss same sex relations. - Discuss what the children have written about the different types of love they have for their
family, peers, for special friends or whom they may marry. Remind the children that while they
expect a great deal from people in relationships, they must also give in a relationship. All
relationships are two-way streets that involve give and take.
(For younger children the activity can stop here. Discuss some of the qualities we find in
people we love such as caring, talking to them, looking after their needs, helping them, playing
with them, and so on)
List the qualities on a chart-like table. For the qualities we want from others, place a cross (X)
mark. For qualities we bring to the relationship, place a Y. See if there are any common
themes such as caring, trust, telling the truth to each other, looking after when you are ill,
helping. Mention these are examples of what LOVE means and that these are different ways
of expressing it.