Kid’s Valentine Party Ideas

Hosting a kid’s Valentines party? If so, Crystal and I have some great ideas for making your party a success. Following are some of our favourite Valentine game, craft, activity and food ideas.

Musical Valentine Hearts

Instead of musical chairs make a fun game out of large red hearts cut out of heavy construction paper. Prior to the game, have each child decorate his or her own heart and print their name on it. Start the game by having each child place his or her heart in a circle formation with the pointed end of each heart facing outwards. Now each child should stand right in front of the pointed end. Explain that when the music starts they are to walk around the heart circle. When the music stops they are to stop right in front of the closest heart. Anyone who pushes another or steps on a heart is disqualified. Like with musical chairs, one heart is removed each time the music stops. The last child standing at the pointed end of the last heart becomes the winner, the second place winner is the owner of the remaining decorated heart.

Valentine Words

For older children try a word game centered around the word ‘cupid’ or ‘love’. Give each child a pencil and a piece of paper with the words ‘cupid’ or ‘love’ at the top. The idea behind this game is to write down as many words as they can think of that start with each of the letters. Give the children a two minute time limit. Whoever can come up with the most words wins a prize. Other prizes could be awarded for most unique words, the best words, greatest number of non-words etc..

Heart Race

If you’ve got a timer, a stack of scrap paper, a handful of red pencil crayons and a bunch of kids then you’ve got the makings for a timed heart race. Don’t worry, this game won’t have kids running through your house. Instead, it is a quick and fun activity the kids can do sitting down. Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil crayon. On the count of three, give them one minute to draw as many hearts shapes as they can on their piece of paper. Have several adults or older helpers on hand to help count up each child’s hearts and determine a winner. Aside from first place, you may also wish to award prizes for the most uniform hearts, the least amount of hearts, the most interesting shaped hearts etc.

Using pink and red construction paper cut in thin strips make a paper chain. Alternate the colours. Cut the paper in equal lengths and widths. Staple the first piece together and then loop the next piece through and staple. Continue until you have your desired length of garland. Instead of paper you may also want to try making a ribbon garland using the same method.

Valentines Heart Garland

With a little creativity you can turn simple red chenille sticks (pipe cleaners) and coordinating ribbon into a unique garland to decorate your party room or better still, have the young party goers make their own so they can decorate their own rooms at home. Shape each chenille stick into a heart, secure by twisting together. A couple of dozen hearts should make a nice garland. Using equal pieces of ribbon, tie bows between each heart until you have an impressive collection of hearts strung together.

Red Sparkle Valentines Hearts

If you’ve got some red paint, white heavy paper or cardboard, and some sugar you’ve got the making of beautiful Valentine Hearts. With a pencil draw a large heart on the paper or cardboard then colour with red paint. Now sprinkle on some sugar. No sugar? Salt works too.

We’ve all heard of Easter egg hunts but what about Valentine’s Day candy hunts? Instead of eggs consider hiding wrapped chocolates or little bags of red & white gummy hearts or jelly beans. Divide up the found treats at the end of the party to make sure no one goes home empty handed.

Hugs & Kisses Hunt

Purchase a bag of Hershey hugs and a bag of Hershey kisses. Now attach little note to each piece that requires an action like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time or doing ten jumping jacks. Go wild hiding them all over your house for your kids to find. Once the kids have found all the hugs and kisses, have everyone sit in a circle with their candy. In a clockwise fashion, ask each participant to complete all of the actions for each hug or kiss they found. If they do all the actions – they get to keep all their candy otherwise they have to share with kids who may have found less.

Make up a batch of strawberry Kool-Aid or red-coloured fruit punch. Instead of regular ice cubes, make Kool-Aid or fruit punch ice cubes and drop in a small cinnamon hearts or a gummy heart in each ice cube section before freezing. Make several trays of your special ice cubes to make sure all party goers get one. Other great punch idea is a cranberry and apple juice blend. Apple juice and cinnamon hearts are a nice combination.

Give A Krispie Kiss

For a cool Valentines Day party favour, mix up a batch of Rice Krispie squares but instead of using a pan, mold the rice cereal mixture with the aid of funnel coated with butter or margarine. Depending on the size of funnel used you should be able to make between six and twelve Rice Krispie kisses. To resemble a Hershey’s kiss, wrap in foil and insert a name tag for each party guest that sticks out a little from the top.

Fruit Gelatin Hearts

1/2 cup frozen strawberries (thawed)
4 envelopes unflavoured gelatin
2 cups of boiling water

Using a blender puree the strawberries and juice. Set the strawberry puree aside. Pour the unflavoured gelatin into a bowl and add two cups of boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Pour the strawberry puree into the liquid gelatin mixture. Blend well. Mix in a can of frozen apple juice concentrate. Oil a 9x12 inch pan with cooking spray. Pour in the mixture. Chill until firm. Once firm, turn the pan upside down. Cut out the gelatin using heart-shaped cookie cutters.