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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Valentine's Day Ideas...
kendallina 10:26 AM 01-29-2011
What do you usually do for valentines day? Do you have the children pass out cards? Are there crafts that you usually do or do you bake cookies??

Here's what I'm planning so far...

The week before will be a friendship week. We'll make friendship soup and have the kids bring in one veggie to contribute (we might read stone soup and use that as the basis for our soup...).

I found these valentine bracelets that might be kind of fun (and really easy and cheap, which is just as important):
http://inevergrewup.net/re-run-week-...ine-bracelets/

I think we'll probably bake and decorate valentine's cookies.

I have some old cards that we are going to draw in and send in the mail to our families.

What are you doing??


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sahm1225 03:36 PM 01-29-2011
I was just thinking about this, so I would love to see what everyone else is doing..

We are doing Heart & Love week... so we are doing lots of little crafts about love.. Then I wanted to do something about the heart (my assistant's 5 yr son has a heart defect, so I wanted to do something about foods that are good for your heart)

One of my DCMs is going to bake cupcakes, so I figured we would all make valentines cards that day (and probably the week before too)
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SilverSabre25 03:49 PM 01-29-2011
My kiddos are mostly under 2, so our activities are usually REALLY simple. My 3 yo DD is really loving those foam stickers right now, and I found a bunch of Valentiney ones in Target's $1 section. I'm going to fold red or pink construction paper into a card (and might walk the oldest two through cutting it into a heart) and then let them use the stickers to make "valentine's" for the parents. We'll probably bake heart-shaped cookies and frost them/decorate them with Valentiney sprinkles (also from Target's $1 section), make red playdough (and put glitter in it) and play with heart-shaped cookie cutters
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Michael 03:49 PM 01-29-2011
Here is a post from last year regarding Valentine's Day Ideas: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25884
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littlemonkeys 07:57 PM 01-29-2011
I posted in the other thread too... I really like this website, there are a lot of great ideas for all ages.

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/c...valentines-day
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jenh171 08:00 PM 01-29-2011
Originally Posted by littlemonkeys:
I posted in the other thread too... I really like this website, there are a lot of great ideas for all ages.

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/c...valentines-day
I l♥ve that website too! I use it all of the time!
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QualiTcare 08:28 PM 01-29-2011
i recommended this for christmas, but it's great for valentine's day too...

wrap a small box with valentine paper and attach a poem (there are different versions you can find online) but it goes something like:

a box never to be opened
a ribbon not to be untied
just a simple little box
that holds all my love inside!

or

This is a very special gift
That you can never see
The reason that it's special
It's just for you from me
Whenever you are lonely
Or when you're feeling blue
You only have to hold this
gift and know I think of you
You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold this box close to your heart
It's filled with love inside

like i said there are many versions - i think it's such a sweet gift for parents and very cheap!
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Blackcat31 06:00 AM 01-30-2011
I recommended these in the last thread....I wonder if parents would think we were crazy?!? Of course I would NEVER but they are funny!!!

http://scottys-place.blogspot.com/20...b-cookies.html
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Stacy214 11:21 AM 01-30-2011
I LOVE the cookies!!!!!
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QualiTcare 12:40 PM 01-30-2011
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I recommended these in the last thread....I wonder if parents would think we were crazy?!? Of course I would NEVER but they are funny!!!

http://scottys-place.blogspot.com/20...b-cookies.html
OMG - that's funny!
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KEG123 01:54 PM 01-30-2011
Here is a really cute blog of an online friend of mine's. http://learncreatelove.com/
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My Lil' Monkeys 03:49 PM 01-30-2011
I love Family Fun!! There is a really cute idea I'm thinking of doing for my kids for their parents...

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/peeka...ayCardIdeas_FF
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kendallina 05:16 PM 01-30-2011
Originally Posted by KEG123:
Here is a really cute blog of an online friend of mine's. http://learncreatelove.com/
I think I know you from another forum!!
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SilverSabre25 05:49 PM 01-30-2011
Another idea I came up with--tearing red and pink construction paper into little pieces (the tearing is a good fine motor skill to learn/practice) and gluing it onto something (maybe a paper plate cut into a heart shape) using watered down glue and a paintbrush (more good fine motor skills) for the bigger ones or a grown up spreading the glue for littlers. Then attaching a photo of the child into the middle of the plate and hanging it up.
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Little People 03:44 AM 01-31-2011
We have started our valentine paper plate holders. I took (cheep paper plates) and glued 2 of them together, then took 1 and cut it in half and glued those 2 together, then I glued the half to the other paper plate. Now we have a plate with a pocket. Then I cut out all different shapes of hearts in different colors of pink, red & purple. Then I let the children glue on hearts all over. Then I found some shiny hearts at big lots and today we will glue those on. Add a pretty ribbon to the top (punch hole) for hanging. Then the children can place their valentines in the pouch. This is simple and my 19mts has been having fun with it too!
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My Daycare 04:04 AM 02-09-2011
Does anyone have any ideas for infants???
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Cat Herder 04:52 AM 02-09-2011
For infants I have done the "crossed hand-print heart" in a wooden picture frame, placed on wax paper, filled with plaster of Paris.

Once it dries, gently pop it out, brush over a layer of glitter paint, replace front glass and put it back in the frame. Sometimes I mount a little picture on it as well.

Simple.
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MommyMuffin 05:31 AM 02-09-2011
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
My kiddos are mostly under 2, so our activities are usually REALLY simple. My 3 yo DD is really loving those foam stickers right now, and I found a bunch of Valentiney ones in Target's $1 section. I'm going to fold red or pink construction paper into a card (and might walk the oldest two through cutting it into a heart) and then let them use the stickers to make "valentine's" for the parents. We'll probably bake heart-shaped cookies and frost them/decorate them with Valentiney sprinkles (also from Target's $1 section), make red playdough (and put glitter in it) and play with heart-shaped cookie cutters
What recipe do you use for the playdoh? Also, when you die the playdoh and the kids play with it does the color get everywhere? I have never made playdoh before so dummy it down for me please! haha
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Unregistered 07:43 AM 02-09-2011
Food coloring in playdough does not stain.

We are making cookie cutter heart paintings. Put paint and soap (YES DISH SOAP) in a bowl. Let kids dip cookie cutters in the paint/soap mixture. When they put them on paper the bubbles from the paint and soap make s neat swirl pattern.

We also marble painted. Cut out a white heart shape, put paint a marble and a spoon in a small bowl. Kids use the spoon to put the marble in a box (with a lid)- we use an old valentine candy heart shaped box. Then kids shake the box and the marble moves the paint around. GREAT FUN!
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SilverSabre25 06:01 AM 02-10-2011
Playdough options

This site has several different playdough recipes. I use the "Traditional Playdough" recipe linked above; the other options are on the left. Although I haven't tried it, I've heard that Kool-Aid powder makes excellent coloring for Playdough--makes it smell good too! You can also add spices (like cinnamon or ginger), extracts or essential oils (like vanilla, orange, or lavender), and things like glitter to the playdough to make it extra special and fun!
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dEHmom 06:20 AM 02-10-2011
I posted on another thread with this.

But I have a 1 1/2 yo, 3 yo and 5 yo.

I was struggling to find a craft or baking I really wanted to do, especially with the variation in ages I don't want to do 3 separate, and nothing super messy.

I'll probably head to dollar store this weekend and pick up some valentines stuff but I am planning this...

http://www.makeandtakes.com/chocolat...pretzel-hearts

this is what I shall do!

and this next one is so adorable...

http://www.makeandtakes.com/mini-cookie-dipped-snowmen
Edit/Delete Message
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Unregistered 06:28 AM 02-10-2011
We are going to have a party and at our party make "Stained Glass Hearts". A very cute and easy for all ages craft that looks great on your window. Check it out at http://www.daycareheadquarters.com for instructions.
And of course CUPCAKES!!
I love Valentines Day! Any ideas for Valentines Day bags or boxes to put Valentines in. Something for all ages?

A
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Jewels 06:39 AM 02-10-2011
I have been doing plaster heart handprints, and then the kids are going to paint them, and they are all passing out valentines and were going to have a movie and popcorn time., and then in our curriculum, we have a valentines project I think a bag or something for the valentines.
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kendallina 09:18 AM 02-10-2011
There are so many great ideas already posted!

My Tues/Thurs preschool group had their Valentine's party today and here's what we ended up doing:

The theme for this week was Friendship and Love. I sent out a letter to families that we were going to have a v-day party today and for the kids to bring valentines for their friends.

On Tuesday, we charted who our friends are. They got to see their names on the board and it was really fun to see what everyone said. Some kids said mom and dad. Others said names of their pets or their imaginary friends.

Then we made a list of party preparations (my older group did). Again, it's always fun to write down what the kiddos say and then post it for parents.

They each decorated file folders to put in their valentines during our party Thursday.

We made bracelets for our moms and dads. http://inevergrewup.net/re-run-week-...ine-bracelets/

Then we made v-day cards for parents and sent them in the mail. We talked about how mail works, where the stamp needs to go, and we walked them out to my mailbox. The parents got them on Wed in the mail and they all thought it was such a cute idea.

For snack we had friendship soup. Each child cut up a different vegetable and added broth and made soup.

Today, we had the parents coming in at 11 for the party. So, we baked cookies and decorated them. I painted a heart on each of their faces. And the children helped me decorate my livingroom with paper chains (red and white- good for learning patterning), balloons and hearts. When the parents came in, the children served them cookies and milk and we all hung out for about 1/2 hour til it was time to go home.

Whew... I'm exhausted. Now I have the MW's party on Monday.
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mickey2 10:12 AM 02-10-2011
We made these today! I printed them out on pink card stock! It only took about 5 minutes for them to do. it took me a while to cut the pieces out but I did so while they were eating lunch. I then glued on a popsicle stick and wrapped a pipecleaner around it! I thought it was cute and easy! The children loved it!

This is a great site!!

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/mheart.html
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mickey2 10:15 AM 02-10-2011
Originally Posted by kendallina:
There are so many great ideas already posted!


We made bracelets for our moms and dads. http://inevergrewup.net/re-run-week-...ine-bracelets/
Thank you so much for this! My son and I are going to do this on the weekend for his friends at school!!
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