Room Parent Tips: Unique Class Activities for Valentine's Day

Are you an awesome room parent? Longing to organize a memorable Valentines Day party for your kids class? Tired of the same old holiday activities for kids? Who says kids have to give out candy hearts and boring boxed cards? Why not try a different approach this year? Maybe they'd like to do something more interactive. Most teachers welcome parents ideas for holiday parties. Why not suggest one of these innovative class activities for Valentine's Day?

Chocolate making - Why have kids give out boxed candy? You can help them make chocolate for the whole class. Skip the complicated recipes. Head to your local craft store for melt and pour chocolate and molds. There are sugar free varieties for diabetic kids too. Bring a crock-pot to the classroom. Have kids use it to melt the chocolate. Fill small cups with melted candy. Kids simply pour it into molds and let it sit. No time? Bring in a chocolate fountain so they can dip strawberries. Kids can easily make and bring home their own candy creations on Valentine's Day.

Heart-felt donations - Valentine's Day is all about sharing the love. Why not get kids involved in donating their time, collecting canned goods or making useable items for those in need? Thanksgiving isn't the only time of year when people go hungry or lack life's necessities. Try something different. Instead of collecting canned goods, ask each child to bring in other items to donate. Or, do both.

Some donation ideas:

*Blankets and pillows

*Coats and sweaters

*Toys

*Toiletries (Toothpaste etc.)

*Treats (Maybe some of the chocolate your class made)

*Necessities for babies (Diapers, Formula, etc.)

Boxed cards are a dime a dozen. Why not have an old school Valentine's Day? Break out the construction paper, scissors and glue. Throw in a few themed stickers, ribbons and lace doilies. Let kids use their imagination to create their own cards. No time for this involved project? Kids protesting? Start with those boring boxed cards. Have kids add embellishments of their choice.

Secret Cupid - You have the secret Santa at Christmas. Why not have a secret cupid gift exchange for Valentine's Day? In addition to saving parents money, the secret cupid serves another purpose. It takes away the stigma of peer pressure and popularity contests. Remember the one kid in class who never got a card? Remember how it felt when you gave someone a mushy Valentine's Day card and got a generic one back? This holiday classroom activity eliminates all that anxiety. Kids can just enjoy the day.

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