Valentine's Day Party Ideas Anyone?

[Josiegirl]

I'm going to keep it smallish this year due to lack of time. Plus we have a birthday girl to celebrate too so focus will be on her as well.
Any simple fun ideas to share?

I found some cute Valentine's Day chex mix I want to make and send home in baggies for the kids. And I'm making sugar cookies this weekend for our party. I always play Parachute Hearts(done with a small blanket) because they love that activity. I'd like to make heart headbands that they can wear.
I need simple. Two of the dcks are 19 months old and they pull everything apart, try to taste all our art supplies, etc.
Any ideas to throw out here or share what you're doing?

[Blackcat31]

This isn't a party idea so much but is definitely a learning activity...

This week we've done pattern cards using conversation hearts. I dont know if anyone actually eats them still but I bought two bags of the classic ones and printed off some pattern card sheets and let the kids go. After they completed a sheet correctly, they got to eat one.

The kids loved it and it actually kept them busy for over an hour. I also printed off BINGO cards using the same conversation hearts and we'll be doing that today.

Here are the conversation heart pattern sheets, if you are interested:

http://www.prekinders.com/candy-heart-patterns/

[Hunni Bee]

We're doing a morning party with the parents. I prefer those because it limits the time parents can linger around, it cuts down on the junk and sweets, and it gets the party out of the way early.

We're just going to have pink hot chocolate (white hot chocolate colored pink), some sort of muffin or danish, and a fruit.

We call it a Sweetheart Breakfast

[LysesKids]

We're doing a morning party with the parents. I prefer those because it limits the time parents can linger around, it cuts down on the junk and sweets, and it gets the party out of the way early.

We're just going to have pink hot chocolate (white hot chocolate colored pink), some sort of muffin or danish, and a fruit.

We call it a Sweetheart Breakfast

I'm doing similar but only because we are doing Mardi Gras on Tuesday, the 9th, with a real King cake, beads & masks. I celebrate Mardi Gras yearly & the 14th is my oldest dd's Bday, so enough going on this next week

[Laurel]

I'm going to keep it smallish this year due to lack of time. Plus we have a birthday girl to celebrate too so focus will be on her as well.
Any simple fun ideas to share?

I found some cute Valentine's Day chex mix I want to make and send home in baggies for the kids. And I'm making sugar cookies this weekend for our party. I always play Parachute Hearts(done with a small blanket) because they love that activity. I'd like to make heart headbands that they can wear.
I need simple. Two of the dcks are 19 months old and they pull everything apart, try to taste all our art supplies, etc.
Any ideas to throw out here or share what you're doing?

This isn't all that party-like but I used to tell the children that exercise makes their hearts stay healthy. Then I cut out some hearts from construction paper (or older ones could do it themselves). On each one I'd write some heart healthy exercise such as jump up and down, hop on one foot, roll on the floor, crawl on the floor, etc. Each would get a turn to pick a heart and then I'd read it or they could if they could read and we'd all do it.

You could also just make the cookies but not decorate them and then let them decorate them. Just some frosting or some frosting and sprinkles. They could tint the icing or colored sugar. For icing you just add food coloring and mix and for sugar just drop food coloring in the sugar and then let them crush it into the sugar with the back of a spoon. Kids love to see it changing colors.

[Josiegirl]

Thanks everyone! Love your ideas!
Unless I get a new oven this weekend home baked cookies won't be coming to my party.
Love the healthy heart idea and they like doing things like that. And the conversation heart patterns; it's always nice to incorporate learning with fun(and candy!).

[Controlled Chaos]

This isn't a party idea so much but is definitely a learning activity...

This week we've done pattern cards using conversation hearts. I dont know if anyone actually eats them still but I bought two bags of the classic ones and printed off some pattern card sheets and let the kids go. After they completed a sheet correctly, they got to eat one.

The kids loved it and it actually kept them busy for over an hour. I also printed off BINGO cards using the same conversation hearts and we'll be doing that today.

Here are the conversation heart pattern sheets, if you are interested:

http://www.prekinders.com/candy-heart-patterns/

Thanks! I used this today and it was a big hit, except my 2yo just wants to eat them all

[Blackcat31]

Thanks! I used this today and it was a big hit, except my 2yo just wants to eat them all

I let mine eat one for each row they got correct.
Definitely kept them interested.