A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, “What does love mean?” The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” — Chrissy, age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

— Terri, age 4

“Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay.” — Danny, age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mummy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss” — Emily, age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” — Bobby, age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” — Nikka, age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” — Noelle, age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” — Tommy, age 6

“Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” — Elaine, age 5

“Love is when Mummy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Toby Keith.” — Chris, age 7

“Love is when Bo licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” — Mary Ann, age 4

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go

up and down and little

stars come out of you.” — Karen, age 7

“Love is when Mummy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.” — Mark, age 6

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” — Jessica, age 8

Author-lecturer Leo Buscaglia talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four-year-old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” — Agencies