I would love to start some fun traditions for Valentines Day with my 3 year old. What do you you guys do? My mom would just give us candy, but I want to do fun stuff for 2 weeks leading up to the day. Thanks!! :)
when I was younger my mother and I would decorate an empty shoe box to put cards in...We also made cookies. You can make some pretty cards to send out to friends and family also.
I make heart shape, pink pancakes. We also give a book every year. Check out familyfun.com. They have tons of good ideas.
I bought my 5 and 2 year old these tiny little mailboxes from the dollar bin at Target. I bought them a little over a week ago. You could get one and put a little something in it every night for your 3 year old to find in the morning. A Hershy's kiss, a heart sticker, a piece of paper with your lipstick kiss on it. Whatever you can come up with.
I love to make homemade cookies in the shape of hearts and let the kids decorate them with frosting and sprinkles. They absolutely love it : )
A. : )
When I was a kid, and when I had my kids we used to make and decorate valentine cakes, and then give them to the neighbors.We also made valentine cookies. It was a lot of fun, and we all got to participate. My kids also enjoyed making paper valentines for family and their friends. Both were great family activities. I know today many are not eating as many desserts so the cakes might not work. Today we love receiving valentine cards from our grandkids. They make theirs, and then write a note on them. ;) My husband also used to get the heart candies with the messages on them.
Have fun. Happy Valentines Day
One of my favorite Valentine's craft projects has always been the little basket that you weave out of construction paper. You can find directions at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Heartbasket.shtml
I send my grandbabies a Valentine a day, starting on the first of Feb. and continuing until the 14th. It is expensive stamp wise, but well worth it to me. Each of my daughters have 4 children so I stick 4 Valentines in each envelope and mail them...then on Valentines Day they all get a special one addressed to just them, including my daughters. Two yrs. ago I moved 5 hrs. away from them all..I use to live 1 min. from one and 5 from the other. Took some adjusting, but we have managed and this is my way of letting them know, that even tho Ninny is 5 hrs. away, she still thinks about them and loves them dearly.
We had fun Valentine Days with my girls since 8 years!!
Foods- We made shaped heart sugar cookies or dipped strawberries with chocolate. We ordered Papa John's shaped heart pizza. We got shaped heart pasta from World Market. We had heart shaped cookie cutter for cookies, Sanwiches, sliced cheeses with square cracker, and pankcake!
Crafts- we use finger paints and stamps to make hearts. We went to Mad Pottery for the fun crafts!! Stop by Michael's for the fun crafts.
Place- We went to Children's Musuem or go to the park for picinic.. Movie and Roller skates.. Barnes and Noble have Valentine's Storytime in Feb. You will have to call nearest store for the date and time.
Friends- we made or buy small valentine's cards and mail to our dear friends from our girls. We hosted Valentine's Playdate with friends with cookies, teasandwiches, and Strawberry milk or juices.
Enjoy it!!
I have 4 children (25,19,7& 5) my kids have always enjoyed painting home made cut out cookies they can paint with colored frosting (I use the wilton.com recipes). I double the recipe and they cut out plenty of extra cookies in all sorts of shapes. That way when friends come over they can participate as well. I have small bowls with lids to store the icing in and keep in the fridge. They can eat them whenthey are done and I have them make a few to take home, we put themin themed bags with ties and preprinted Valentines comment on it. We do this for any event. My son is not a big sweet eater so he enjoys giving them away. It is such a great feeling to see the look of pride when he shares. My parents used to give us a little heart shaped box with candy, I thought it was the neatest thing so I started that with my kids. I take pictures of them holding the box as a memory. They have some really cute .99cent heart boxes of candy.
Also check out your local craft, HomeDepot & lowes stores (lowes-Build & Grow program) they have free crafts. Our local teacher supply store (Lakeshore) has free crafts as well. My kiddos are all craft nuts. I also make goodies for them to pass out to friends and I have them help me. My son (7yrs) insist on getting me flowers.
