Valentine’s day games and activities for kids

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and what does that mean for kids? CANDY! Seriously, though, Valentine’s Day has a lot more to offer kids than just a sugar rush. It’s a terrific opportunity to encourage kids to take stock of the positive relationships in their lives and learn how to honor them.

These Wondrfly-approved kids’ activities and games for Valentine’s Day will help you engage your child in intellectually stimulating play. More than that, many of them involve CANDY, which is sure to get your kids’ attention. Hey, if they’re going to eat that candy anyway, they might as well learn something while doing it!

What You Need:

• Some conversation heart candies

• Creativity!

Conversation hearts are a perennial Valentine’s Day favorite. Over the years, they’ve become a go-to gift to tell loved ones how much we care. Their adorable little messages are a special hit with kids, in particular. Before consuming them, however, consider all the many fun and learning activities you can do with them, whatever your child’s age or level of development. They include:

• Sorting by color to aid color-identification skills

• Sorting by phrase to encourage the development of literacy skills.

• Alphabetizing them to improve sequencing skills and literacy.

• Using them to build the outline of shapes, numbers, letters, or works of original candy heart-art!

• Using them to compose a heartfelt note to a friend or family member.

1. Decorate an envelope.
2. Ask your child to pick out hearts that they feel best represent the person they’re “writing” to.
3. Drop in the envelope.
4. Give as a gift!

• Playing Go Fish with them!

What You Need:

• Nothing but your noggin!

This is a super easy, no-equipment-required game kids can play with or without you, in the car, in a waiting room, at home, anywhere, anytime! The first player starts with the letter A and completes the sentence, “I love you like a(n) ______ loves _________.” The words in the blanks both need to start with the letter A. So, one might say, “I love you like an aardvark loves apples.”

Then the next player to take a turn does the same with the letter B. “I love you like a badger loves bubbles.” And so on, until you come to the end of the alphabet. The thing that makes this game so entertaining is that the sentences don’t have to make sense, and all the absurd imaginings this brings up will definitely lead to some outbursts of giggles!

What You Need:

• Paper or plastic cups that are opaque, not transparent or translucent.

• Small candies like M&M’s OR individually wrapped fun-size candy bars of varying types

• A timer (optional)

There are two ways you can play this game, one with different types of fun-sized candy bars, another with different numbers of small chocolates like M&M’s. The latter is a little trickier and requires more counting skills.

1. Set out twelve fun-sized candy bars—six different types, two of each type (or, to make it easier, 3 types and four of each)—alternating the type of candy as randomly as possible. Set them out in four rows of three.

2. Alternately, if you’re using small candies like M&M’s, make small piles of candies on the table, containing between one and six candies each. Make two piles containing each number between one and six. Arrange them as randomly as possible on the table in four rows of three.

3. Cover each candy bar or pile of chocolates with a paper or plastic cup (not see-through!)

4. Let your child take the cups off two at a time to try and find a match. If no match is found, replace the cups, and try again. If a match is found, leave the cups off and let your child have the candy they’ve earned!

5. For an added challenge, set a timer for one minute and see how many matches they can make (and how many chocolates they can score)!
   
   

What You Need

• A writing utensil and some paper

• Someone special to write about!

All things sugary and sweet aside, one of the more important lessons we can teach our kids on Valentine’s Day is to use their creativity to express love for those they care about. What better way to do so than by creating a unique poem based on your loved one’s name?

1. Have your child write out their loved one’s name vertically on the left-hand edge of a piece of paper. Leave plenty of space to write beside each letter and make them as big as possible!

2. Now the fun begins! Have them think of a word or phrase starting with each letter of the person’s name that describes them in a positive way. Really invite your child to think about all the special and unique things this person brings to their life.

3. Now your child can decorate the rest of the paper any way they like, fold it up, place it in an envelope, and deliver it to that special someone, who’s about to find out just how much they’re loved!

Looking for more fun activities to keep your child learning and growing every day of the year? Search Wondrfly today for Jersey City and Hoboken’s best kids’ activities. If you’re not in Jersey City or Hoboken, never fear! Wondrfly is coming soon to a city near you.