Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14th. It is a special day to show love and appreciation for the people we care about, such as family, friends, and even our classmates! It’s not just for couples – it’s a day for everyone to spread kindness and joy.
How Did Valentine’s Day Start?
Valentine’s Day has its roots in a long-ago tradition. It is believed to be named after Saint Valentine, a kind and caring person who lived many years ago. Some stories say he helped people in love, while others suggest he spread kindness and hope during difficult times. Over time, this day became a way to celebrate love and friendship.
Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
There are so many creative and exciting ways for children, teachers, and parents to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Here are a few ideas:
In the Classroom or at Home
- Crafts and Cards: Make handmade cards with heart shapes, glitter, and fun messages for friends or family.
- Kindness Jar: Write down kind words about each other and read them aloud as a group.
- Story Time: Share books about friendship, love, and kindness.
- Love Bugs: Create cute “love bugs” using pom poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
- Valentine Freeze Dance: Play music; kids must freeze in a heart pose when the music stops!
Create Valentine’s Day Cards for Friends and Family!
Are you in search of a range of engaging Valentine’s Day Cards? This resource includes 12 adorable cards in three formats (1/2-page and two 1/4-page formats). These coloring and writing cards are perfect for your Valentine writing and literacy centers for kindergarten & 1st grade activities!
Games to Play on Valentine’s Day
- Heart Hunt: Hide paper hearts around the room and let the kids find them.
- Pin the Arrow on the Heart: A Valentine’s twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
- Cupid’s Relay: A fun game where kids race to carry hearts or love-themed items in a relay.
- Love Bingo: Create bingo cards with Valentine’s Day symbols like hearts, chocolates, and flowers.
Valentine’s Day Same and Different Matching Game
Create a Valentine’s Day Emergent Reader!
Make Valentine’s Day learning fun with emergent readers which are Science of Reading aligned! Featuring engaging illustrations, simple text, and the ability to practice reading, writing, and retelling, these readers are perfect for developing young readers’ comprehension skills. Get your copy today!
Educational Activities
- Count the Hearts: Give each child some candy hearts and count them out! OR Use paper hearts. Drop them from a bucket and count how many you get! (Put them back into the bucket and shower the kids with hearts! Count how many groups of two kids got!)
- Storytime: Read Valentine’s Day-themed books like “Guess How Much I Love YOu” or “The Day It Rained Hearts.”
- Heart Matching Game: Match uppercase and lowercase letters on heart-shaped cards.
Make Valentine’s Day Cards for your Teacher (FREE)
At Home Activities
- Create a Gratitude Wall: Write notes about things you love and are thankful for, then stick them on a wall or board.
- Bake Treats Together: Make heart-shaped cookies or cupcakes and decorate them as a family.
- Heart Sandwiches: Use heart-shaped sandwich cutters and let kids make their own.
- Movie Night: Watch a family-friendly movie about love and friendship.
Spread Kindness
Valentine’s Day is a great time to teach children about being kind to others. Encourage acts of kindness like helping a friend, writing a thank-you note, or sharing a smile.
Make Valentine’s Day Kindness Coupons to give to family and friends! (FREE)
Valentine’s Day Activities are fun! With this resource, kids will be thinking and talking about friendship and kindness. Children will write about a surprise they may wish to share with someone. It’s great for Valentines Day Centers! Kids from Kindergarten-Grade Two will enjoy this engaging Valentine’s Day Activity!
Make Valentine’s Day memorable, filled with joy, love, and fun activities! ❤️
Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️
Laurie
