For most elementary school children, Valentine's Day is primarily about candy. However, for parents, Valentine's Day can be a teachable moment to give young children the opportunity to show love and kindness to family, friends and those who are less fortunate. The child who doesn't have a store-bought card for every classmate may be among the 22 percent in the United States living below the poverty level, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. Even small gestures encourage your child to put others first for a day.
For Parents
Since it's your money, picking out and purchasing a present can be a little silly, especially "from" young children. Instead, have the other parent or a friend interview your child about what they love about you. Even a two-year-old is guaranteed to have a colorful answer, and the younger children are, the cuter the responses will be. Take the answers and write them in a note or card. For older children, have them make their own notes or cards. One Mother's Day example that appeared in the Thought Catalog went viral recently because of the heart-warming message it sent.
For Grandparents
Instead of sending an impersonal card long distance, send a gift. With online shopping, children can browse many thoughtful gifts for relatives out of state. For example, Valentine flowers from FTD.com are available in many varieties. According to the Gifted Development Center, visual learners may do better looking at many options at once instead of trying to conceptualize an idea from scratch. It's also a good opportunity to practice math (i.e., "What's half off of $20?") and begin to understand the process that goes into gift hunting. Since Valentine's Day is relatively close to the holiday season, many children may need such a perspective.
For Classmates
Instead of buying candy or cartoon Valentine's for the class, combine spring cleaning with gifting and make homemade crayons for your children's classmates. It's a project you can work on together—even preschoolers can crush broken crayons—and kids will get more mileage out of art supplies than lollipops. Chef Messy, a crafting blog, provides step-by-step instructions. This kind of project also will encourage creativity and sacrifice, and helps inspire children to spend time using their own things to create gifts to give to others.
For the Community
Of course, kids should enjoy the candy and party aspects of Valentine's Day. School will provide plenty of opportunities for celebration. But before the teenage years and inevitable heartbreak and giant teddy bears hit, take an opportunity to make volunteering a Valentine's tradition. According to research by the United Way, children who volunteer are more likely to have a sense of compassion for others, to avoid dangerous choices and to have high self-esteem. Give your kids the choice about what to do and make sure to do it together. More than elaborate projects or heart-shaped pancakes, quality time is the best way to show your children that you care about them.
