valentine

This is my first year experiencing Valentine’s Day in the school system.  Last week my son brought home a newsletter that announced: “if you are going to make Valentine’s cards for the class, please make one for everyone”.  I completely get that!  My sinking feeling came from the fact that I highly doubt Valentine’s Day is done the way I remember it.  I’m assuming gone are the days of the Strawberry Shortcake and Snoopy-themed paper Valentine’s Day cards.  Thanks to Pinterest and highly-crafty-parents (which I am absolutely NOT), I’m thinking Valentine’s Day cards are ramped up to a whole new level.

So…I’ve done my research, I’ve sourced a wide variety of Valentine’s Day themed crafts.  I also stumbled across a few cute Valentine’s Day games.  Here’s hoping my 5 year old embraces one of these ideas, as I think I can manage almost everything on this list.  Good luck to my fellow non-crafty parents!

I really love these chocolate arrow Valentine’s Day cards.  Chocolate is a must on Valentine’s Day.  These cute little cards checks that box, and are super easy to make. These PlayDoh cards are brilliant.  Creative, and non-sugary.  I’m hoping this is the one that interests my kindergartener.

We like to decorate our house for the various holidays that pass by on the calendar.  I certainly visit the Dollar Store for some whirly-gigs to hang from the ceiling.  I also like to use kid-art to make the walls look festive.  There are many ways to make heart-art.  Check out the toilet-paper hearts, and the thumb-print hearts…super cute!  You can also get the kids to make their own heart leis.

Looking for some games to play with the kids for Valentine’s Day?  Here are two super cute ones!

Photo courtesy of The Teacher's Wife

Photo courtesy of The Teacher’s Wife

When researching Valentine’s crafts I stumbled across a grade one teacher’s site.  She created a fun game which is a version of Pin the Tale on the Donkey – Pin the Lips on the Teacher.  While you don’t have to stick to teacher, I thought this was a cute take on a classic game.  There is even a lip-template you can download.

conversation-hearts-at-dinner-activity-for-families-

Make this great Valentine’s game part of your meal-time activities.  This little game allows you to learn more about one another and help ease the inevitable dinner-time-chaos.  Take little foam hearts; on one side write standard Valentine’s Day sayings (Cutie Pie, I Love You, Be Mine, etc).  On the other ask open-ended questions (not yes-or-no questions).  At dinner time, each person gets to pick one heart.  Everyone takes turns answering the various questions.  Here are some ideas for those open-ended questions:

  • What is your favourite game to play?
  • What is your favourite subject to learn about?
  • What do you want to get better at?
  • What is your favourite book?
  • What is your favourite sport?
  • What character from a book/movie or TV show would you like to be?
  • What was your least favourite ride at at Disneyland?
  • What is your favourite food?
  • How old do you have to be to get married?
  • What is your favourite room in the house to read in?
  • If you could visit any country in the world where would you go?
  • What do you want to be when you grow up?

Have a fantastic Valentine’s Day…and I sure hope you get some of your very own chocolate!