Have you heard of pebbling? Lots of people are talking about this way of showing kindness to a person you love. Pebbling is the act of giving small gifts to show affection. The gifts can be as simple as sharing a photo or a joke that reminds you of your loved one. You might send them a good morning text or bring them a smoothie.​

Pebbling is not just for romantic relationships. People do pebbling with friends and family members too. Any small gesture that shows you are thinking of someone can be considered pebbling.​

Where did the term pebbling come from? Penguins! In the penguin world, gifting a pebble is the equivalent of bringing someone flowers or a box of chocolates. ​

Birds who live in warm places usually build their nests out of leaves and twigs. But in the icy world of penguins, there are no leaves to use. Instead, they use pebbles to construct their nests. ​

​The pebble nests allow snow and ice to melt through, which makes them perfect for the arctic climate. The nests keep eggs and hatchlings dry. They also keep them raised safely off the cold, hard ground.​

​Gentoo penguins search for small round pebbles that make the best nests. They pick them up with their beaks and present them to their partner. The pebble gift cements the relationship between the two penguins. It symbolizes their desire to build a nest together. ​

Next time you want to show your friend you are thinking of them, remember the penguins. Sharing a funny video or bringing them a cookie could be a good way to show you care. Your mom might send you a picture of what your dog does while you’re at school. Or maybe your sister lets you have the front seat in the car. Whether you’re giving or receiving, pebbling makes the world a brighter place!