Fit Family Report

Dear Friends,

Next Wednesday is February 14th--Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday! Both dates have religious origins, but Valentine's Day has come to mean "the day of love" around the world.

It has become a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and friendship in many regions of the world. How wonderful that our society sets aside a day to show friendship and love, and teaches this to our children. All classrooms are decorated with hearts in February and lessons are taught about how to be good friends.

In this edition, we share how other countries around the world celebrate the friendship aspect of St. Valentine's Day and give suggestions to teach children the meaning of love.

Happy Valentine's Day, my dear friends!

With love,

Marta Perez, Ph.D., JD

I hope you enjoy the Fit Family Report as much as I delight in sending you news about what we can do to live happier, healthier lives. Please share this report and email me with your thoughts and suggestions.

Why Valentine’s Day in These European Countries Is All About Friendship

In many countries around the world, single people can find themselves dreading Valentine’s day. The holiday is designed for couples, who exchange chocolate, flowers, and doting smiles.

But not in Estonia and Finland, two tiny European countries where Feb. 14 is Friend’s Day, a celebration of platonic love.

Known as Ystävän Päivä in Finnish and Sõbrapäev in Estonian, Friend’s Day is celebrated by single people and couples alike. Families, friends and couples gather for shared meals and sporting activities like skating or sledding.



“I am going to see my friends for dinner to celebrate,” Jäntti said. “We’ve been friends since we were 14 and all our partners are going to be there as well.”

Read more here.

Valentine's Day: Show Your Child the Meaning of Love

Just when it seems like the commercial excess of winter holidays is winding down, along comes Valentine’s Day and the advertising barrage of "stuff = love."

It’s tempting to want to give our children material items and Valentine’s Day treats, often at the expense of simple acts of love and other small meaningful gifts.

As parents, we may fall into this mindset because we want to provide the best life possible for our children. Rest assured, teaching the meaning of love, creating loving memories with children, and spending unhurried family time together are truly more valuable than any gift you can buy. Valentine’s Day is a good place to start. Read more.

Help Fit Kids of America



Fit Kids is an award-winning non-profit organization committed to helping children develop healthy habits and active lifestyles through evidence-based fun and engaging fitness programs. Its mission is to empower the next generation to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Fit Kids is located in Westchester and its staff has served children and families in all of Miami-Dade County for more than 30 years.

Today, they need your help to continue the mission and reach even more children. By donating to this GoFundMe campaign, you can make a real difference. Your contribution will help provide equipment, training, and support to coaches and program leaders, as well as fund outreach programs in underprivileged communities.

With a $50 donation to Fit Kids GoFundMe campaign, you can make a meaningful impact on the life of an individual child. Your donation can provide a child with access to Fit Kids programs, equipment, and resources, helping them develop the skills and habits they need to thrive.