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Valentine's Day Parties for Children
Kids love parties regardless of the time of year or occasion. Whether you are a parent or teacher, this guide is meant to give you ideas for throwing a great kid's Valentine's party, complete with suggestions on everything from decorations
Getting Started
- The first thing to do is to pick a date. Because of the day on which this February 14th falls (it happens to be a Wednesday in 2007) it is recommended that you have a party on the weekend prior to the holiday rather than on the day itself. Whichever date you choose, it is always best to send out invitations well in advance so you can be sure that everyone can make it.
- Choose a place, such as your home, a library, bowling alley, recreation center, pizza place, or McDonalds. The possibilities are endless. Simply choose the location that will be easiest and most appropriate for the number of children and parents who will attend. Also consider what your budget will allow. You might even consider speaking with other parents to see if they would like to join forces. One can host in their home while the other takes care of other tasks.
- When creating a guest list, it is advisable to use some tact. Of course, you must consider your budget, how much space you have available, and the age of the children involved. Nonetheless, throwing a party for kids can often cause feelings to be hurt. One method for keeping the peace goes as follows.
- Invite the entire class. This means nobody gets left out but it also means that you might wind up having nearly 20 kids in your home in some cases. Make sure you have enough chaperones to help host if you decide to invite the entire class. Also keep in mind that if you invite everyone, that doesn't mean that next time a holiday roles around your child will be entitled to be invited to everyone elses parties. It's true, it does happen, and you should be prepared for it.
- Invite only the boys or only the girls from the class. This is a good method for limiting the number of children to invite, which winds up being about half the class.
- Invite the child's best friends only. This may be as few as two people or as many as five or six. In most cases this qualifies as less than half a child's class, making this a very easy number of kids to handle. It also keeps costs low. Make sure though that the invitations are mailed or brought directly to the invitees home's and not handed out at school. Also, remind the children not to mention the party at school so that they don't make others feel left out.
- For more help on choosing who to include on the guest list and more about invitation etiquette, please see the following Web sites:
Invitations
- Depending on how many children will be invited to the party, you may want to simply buy Valentine's invitations
- Send invitations no later than two weeks prior to the party.
- Make sure to include the following information on the invite:
- The child's name.
- The parent's names and those of anyone else hosting.
- The date, time, and place of the party including directions if needed.
- An RSVP date and your phone number.
- If there are any attire requirements.
- What the party will entail in brief. Mention whether:
- It is a potluck...
- The parents are invited and if so, must they bring anything or pay anything (this may be the case if you go to a rec center, Chucky Cheese, etc.).
- If refreshments will be served.
- Example:
- In celebration of Valentine's Day, 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Doe along with their daughter Jane Doe (from Mrs. Willoughby's Third Grade class) will be hosting a party on Sunday, February 11th from 2pm to 5pm. The party will be held at the Doe residence located at 123 Little Town Lane. Light food and refreshments will be served and parents are welcome to attend. Please RSVP no later than February 9th by calling (123) 456-7890. You can also email us at doe@emailaddress.com should you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
Fun Activities
One of the biggest and most popular things to do at a Valentine's Day party is to create Valentine cards
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Consider hiring an entertainer if you have a large group to entertain. This works best with very young children. Make sure to book well in advance |
Piñatas |
Have a bake-off where everyone helps bake either heart-shaped cookies or cupcakes and then decorates them. Make sure to have plenty of icing, frosting, and decorative extras. |
Have a scavenger hunt by giving them a list of the things to find that you have previously scattered throughout the house. The winner gets a great prize of your choice! |
Party Favors
At children's parties it is very important that no child leaves empty handed. Here are some options for stuffing little goodie bags. You might also consider doing a grab bag with lots of different things in it.
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Snacks, Beverages, and Sweets
Below is a selection of foods and drinks for kids. Besides the ideas shown below, please keep in mind that:
- Slices of fresh fruits and raw vegetables make great, healthy snacks that are nutritional and easy to eat.
- Keep food simple and kid-friendly. Foods that make less mess are best, especially when you are trying to control a bunch at the same time.
- Only serve one type of dessert. Too much sugar can lead to hyperactivity and restlessness.
- Be careful what kids drink as too much sugar in soda and fruit juice can also make some kids go a little bonkers.
- When possible, get creative and make the food represent Valentine's Day. For example, cut out sandwiches with a heart cookie cutter and choose red or pink colored foods when possible.
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"Ants on a Log" |
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Jello |
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Links to Recipes for Kids
- All Recipes -- Kid's drinks.
- About.com
- Holistic Health Tools -- Healthy drinks for kids to make at home.
- Kathy Ireland
- Kraft Foods
- Mayo Clinic -- Information about how to choose healthy snacks and beverages for kids.
Other External Links
- About.com -- Party games for kids.
- Amazing Moms -- More party ideas to celebrate V-Day.
- Sarah's Cake and Candy -- How to play.... Instructions for basic kids games.