Valentine's Day Party Games and Activities for Kids

There are so many fun games and activities that you can do to celebrate Valentine's Day. Here are a few of my favorites that kids always seem to enjoy. These games and activities are inexpensive and require little preparation, but lots of fun!

Balloon Relay

You will need: 2 different sets of colored balloons - red, pink, or purple, paper, and a marker

Preparation: Choose a word that goes with Valentine's Day such as VALENTINE or FRIENDSHIP. Next you will need to cut the paper in small squares and write one letter of the word you have chosen on each square and fold each piece very small. Make two sets of the letters using the same word for two different teams to compete. Now blow up the balloons and before tying put one letter in each balloon. Make sure that you use different colored balloons for each team.

Object: To be the first team to pop the balloons and put the letters in order to form the word.

Instructions: Divide the group of kids into two teams. When you say go, they have to pop each balloon, find the papers, and spell out the word. The first team to do this wins! Don't tell them what the word is and the game will be more challenging.

Note: You can play this with three teams, but be sure to make three sets of balloons.

Matching Heart Game

You will need: red, pink, and purple construction paper, scissors, pencil

Preparation: Cut out different sized hearts using the colored construction paper. You will need one for every two kids. Then you will cut each of the hearts in half using crazy patterns and zig-zags.

Object: To find the person that has the other half of your heart.

Instructions: Have the kids sit in a circle on the floor facing out. Pass a heart out to each of the kids making sure the hearts are mixed up. When you say go, they will try to find the person with the heart that matches their heart. When they find it they will sit down. This can be played several times just be sure to shuffle the heart pieces before passing out again. You can make this more challenging by using the same sized hearts and/or the same color construction paper.

Note: You need an even number of kids to play this game so get the teacher or another adult involved if you need to even it out!

Conversation Heart Stories

You will need: One set of conversation hearts for each child, baggies, fun paper with Valentine theme for decoration, pencils

Preparation: Divide the conversation hearts into baggies making one set for each child. 10-20 hearts is plenty. You will need to pull out any that may be inappropriate for children such as "Sexy."

Instructions: Give each of the kids a baggie of conversation hearts, a sheet of paper, and a pencil. Tell them that they have 5-10 minutes to come up with a funny story using the conversation hearts in their bag. You can tell them how many they have to use or just give them a lower amount and they have to use all of them. Older children should be able to use more to write a funny story. Be sure to give them a few guidelines and rules such as no bathroom language or inappropriate stories. You can have them read their stories out loud to the group.

Note: Have younger kids work in pairs or small groups and omit the writing if needed.

Heart Cookie Decorating

You will need: Heart shaped sugar cookies, Red, pink and white icing, sprinkles, colored decorating sugars, red hot candies, conversation hearts, plastic spoons and/or knives

Preparation: Prepare the icing and decorations so that the children can begin right away.

Instructions: Give each child a heart shaped cookie to decorate. They will use the icing and decorations to create a beautiful and delicious masterpiece.

Note: Decide if they can eat the cookies right away and if not; prepare a baggie with their name so they can place the cookie in there to take home.

Valentine Box Contest

You will need: One shoe box per child, colored construction paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, felt, sequins, beads, glitter, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, buttons, yarn, and anything else they could use to create

Preparation: Choose a theme that you would like the kids to follow in designing their box or let them do anything they want, but tell them there will be prizes for the Funniest Creature, Craziest Design, Best Use of Materials, Most Unique Design, etc.

Instructions: Give the kids a shoe box and access to all of the materials. Be sure to give them a time limit so they get started right away. They can use these boxes to collect Valentine's from their friends.

Note: If time is limited, have them do this activity at home and bring to school on party day and have the class vote for the winners and tell them they can vote for themselves only once.

Guess How Many Red Hots?

You will need: Red hot cinnamon candies, jar or other container, paper, pencils

Preparation: Fill a jar or other container with the candies making sure to count each and every one!

Instructions: Give each child a piece of paper and have them write their name and a guess of how many candies there are. The one closest to the exact number wins the jar of red hots.

Note: You can also use Hershey kisses, gumdrops, conversation hearts, or other small candy.