Am I The Only One That Sees Something Wrong With This...

[MrsB]

So in our unit we are studing travel and giving so I though this would be a perfect opportunity since it is Valentines day for the kids to give to each other. In addition we have been learning about the mail system. So I have sent home a paper explaining all of this and have followed up with reminder emails and texts that the kids need to bring valentines day cards for each one of the kids. No candy or gift is necessary, just a piece of paper with the childs name who it is from. We have been working hard as a team to decorate a mailbox for each child. So the big day has showed up and the kids are so excited...

Okay 3 of the kids didnt bring anything (not the first time so I bought lots of extras) the other 4 brought their valentines, some even brought candy to share and one even brought a little stuffed doggy for each child. (Mom or dad was on top of it because they got all the SAME dog, so there will be no fighting! As I went through each of the childrens valentines I made sure no one got left out and color coded the valentines with stickers so the kids who cant read names can match the sticker on the valentine to the sticker on the mailbox. I began to notice EVERY single child brought a valentine for themselves too! This really bothers me! I am trying to teach the kids about giving to others not to themselves!

So how would you handle this? Just let the kids give themselves valentines. I really want to give them back to the parents at pick up and say something nice, of course, but no thank you.

[familyschoolcare]

It depends, on how it "whent down" at the child's house. If the child wrote the names on the card themselves then it is possible esp. for the younger

ones (the one that can barely write) that they simply whent down the list and did not concet the dots that sally was them. If the parents wrote the

names I would mention it to them at pick up. Hey I noticed that you sent a valentine to you own child, from your child. Then gigle.

[WImom]

My kids are in grade school and still do this. I guess I never really thought anything of it. They are super excited to give the valentines to friends so I guess it never crossed my mind. We did an exchange with daycare yesterday and most of the kids had them that way too.

[SilverSabre25]

Meh, I don't see a problem with it. Most kids are going to be really excited about the Valentines that THEY picked out, and want one of their very own. I really don't see an issue with it---I see it as learning that things are fair, that they can give to others but there are enough for them, too. It takes a much older child/person to give away all of a limited resource and keep none for themselves, if you can see what I mean.

FWIW, I always remember giving myself one of my Valentines, too...

[seebachers]

I agree with silver..........


if this is the only "issue" - consider Valentine's day a success and start making plans for St. Patrick's day.

[Sunshine44]

I agree with Silver. Kids pick out Valentine's based on what they like, they naturally want to keep one themselves and at this age they do not know any different. All of my kids sent things for the other kids an one for themselves. I don't think they need to be taught a lesson like that this young.

[AnneCordelia]

I would mention it to them at pick up. Hey I noticed that you sent a valentine to you own child, from your child. Then gigle.

Hahaha! That is also what Id do. Lol! They gave one to themselves? I had a mom sent one for her daughter (from the mom) which makes more sense. Lol.

[cheerfuldom]

I give my kids one of the valentines they purchased to give to friends....but i put to (my kids name) from mommy. so they get to keep one of what they bought for others.

[kendallina]

I don't think it's a big deal. Some kids here gave one to themselves (and in one case the child's parents had written To: Child From: Mom and Dad, which I thought was nice).

ETA: I'm more bothered by ALL the candy (and even all the toys, tattoos, necklaces, crap crap crap!)...

[DBug]

I totally get what you're saying. When my boys were little, Gramma & Grampa always wanted to bring a present for each boy when it was one of their birthdays. I said "Nope, they need to learn to give and not necessarily receive." So I totally agree with you.

However, the same thing happened here today, and I wonder if it's more a case of the parents being worried that their child will be the ONLY one bringing something for everyone. And if that's the case, their child will be the only kid that doesn't get something to take home. In that case, on a day like Valentine's Day which is all about love and friendship, I understand parents not wanting their child to be the one left out.