Keep Valentine’s Day inclusive and low-pressure
In kindergarten, Valentine’s Day is usually about friendship and kindness rather than romance. A friendship framing helps all children feel welcome, including those from families that do not celebrate the day. Share your plans with families in advance, let them know what is optional, and offer a simple alternative activity if they prefer. For a broader approach to holiday planning, see the importance of celebrations in preschool.
Plan activities as stations or centers rather than a single large party. Short, hands-on stations keep children busy and make supervision easier.
Heart art and fine motor crafts
- Tissue paper stained glass hearts. Children glue small squares of tissue paper onto a heart-shaped outline. Tearing and gluing builds finger strength and coordination, as do the exercises in cutting activities for pre-K.
- Heart collage. Provide paper scraps, magazines and stickers.
- Painting with hearts. Stamp with sponge hearts or dip a cut potato or apple in paint.
- Pipe-cleaner hearts. Bend pipe cleaners into hearts. Cover sharp ends to prevent scratches.
- Heart snails and animals. Folded and cut paper hearts can become snails, butterflies or bees.
Use washable, non-toxic paints and glue. Keep scissors for children with supervision. Avoid glitter if possible, because it can get into eyes and mouths and is hard to clean.
Math and literacy with hearts
- Counting hearts. Hide paper hearts numbered 1 to 20 and have children find and order them.
- Heart patterns. Use red, pink and white paper hearts to make ABAB patterns.
- Graphing. Sort conversation hearts-style paper hearts, or paper hearts in different colors, and make a simple graph. Using paper rather than candy avoids allergy and choking concerns.
- Sight word hearts. Write sight words on paper hearts and have children match or hunt for them.
- Letter writing. Children write names or a short message on cards. Provide models for those who need help.
- Rhyming. Practice rhymes such as “heart / art / part”.
Play dough cookie shop and dramatic play
A play dough cookie shop is a classic pretend-play setup. Provide play dough, heart cookie cutters, rolling pins and paper plates, and invite children to “bake” and sell treats to friends. This builds language, social skills and fine motor strength, and pairs well with our imagination activities for 5 year olds. If you add beads or other small decorations, supervise closely, use large pieces, and do not offer them to children who might put items in their mouths. Check that any play dough is gluten-free if a child has a related allergy, and remind children that play dough is not food.
Other pretend play ideas: a post office where children “deliver” cards, a flower shop with paper flowers, or a “heart hospital” where children care for stuffed animals.
Kindness and friendship activities
- Kindness chain. Each time a child does something kind, add a paper heart link to a chain. More ideas are in preschool character development.
- Compliment circle. Children take turns saying one nice thing about the child next to them, with adult support.
- Helping hands. Draw around hands and write ways to help at home or in class.
- Cards for others. Make cards for classmates, school staff, or residents of a care home, subject to your program’s policies.
- Read-alouds. Choose picture books about friendship and caring.
Making and exchanging valentines
Card exchanges are most inclusive when every child gets one from everyone. Consider:
- Asking each child to bring cards for all classmates, or having the class make cards at school.
- Providing a class list so families know the names to include.
- Having children decorate a paper bag or box to collect cards, and keeping decorations simple.
- Letting children open cards at a calm time rather than all at once.
Homemade cards are a good option. Children can use stickers, stamps, crayons and markers. Help with writing names. Avoid including small, detachable items such as stickers that could be swallowed by younger siblings.
Non-candy favors and safe treats
Many schools ask for non-food favors because of allergies and sugar concerns. Common ideas include:
- Pencils, erasers or stickers (check that erasers and small items are not choking hazards for younger siblings)
- Bubbles
- Sidewalk chalk
- Small play dough containers
- Temporary tattoos (check for skin sensitivities and follow school policy)
- Bookmarks
Avoid items that are small enough to fit through a toilet paper tube if younger children will handle them. Slap bracelets and similar toys may be restricted at some schools, so check the policy first.
If you serve food, follow your school’s allergy policy. Provide labeled, packaged items where possible, and avoid foods that are choking hazards such as whole grapes, popcorn, nuts and hard candy. Have children sit while eating.
Safety notes for materials
- Use child-safe scissors and supervise cutting.
- Avoid hot glue guns around children.
- Cover sharp pipe cleaner ends.
- Keep small beads, buttons and sequins away from mouthing children.
- Wash hands after painting and before eating.
- Tape loose cords and floor decorations out of walkways.
- Keep helium balloons and balloon pieces away from young children. Latex balloons that pop can be a choking risk, and some children have latex allergies.
Sample schedule for a party or center day
- Circle time (10 min). Read a friendship story and talk about kindness.
- Station rotation (about 15 min each). Heart art, math, play dough shop.
- Card delivery (10 min). Children deliver cards and read names.
- Snack and cleanup (10 min). Snacks only if allowed.
- Closing (5 min). Sing a friendship song.
For other seasonal ideas, see St. Patrick’s Day science activities for preschoolers and the easy Christmas program guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are good Valentine’s Day activities for kindergarten?
Heart crafts, play dough cookie shops, math and sight-word games with paper hearts, and making cards for classmates all work well.
How can we handle Valentine’s Day if some families do not celebrate?
Frame it as a day about friendship and kindness, give families advance notice, and provide a calm alternative activity.
Should we avoid candy?
Many schools avoid candy because of allergies and school policies. Non-food favors such as stickers, bubbles or pencils are common alternatives. Always follow your school’s policy.