What are you all doing for classroom valentines? I have a little toddler and I’m not sure if other parents will hate me if I give out candy and I’d love to avoid party favor-y junk toys. I might be overthinking this 😅

We do snacks, the toys just end up in trash and landfills. This year doing mini rice krispies and pretzels!

My 7 year old made custom bracelets for everyone in her class, I’m amazed that she had the patience for that.

Parents at my kids’ school go crazy with the candy and junk toys. I just send the little valentines cards from the grocery store 🤷🏼‍♀️

What happened to just the card?!

Pencils, erasers, playdough

For the parents that do this, do you judge or get offended by the families that don’t participate? My son is in a class of 1.5-2 year olds and I just don’t see the point given the kids don’t understand the concept of valentines yet.

We already have so much to do with our jobs and homes, why add another task that has no value? Don’t want to be rude though so appreciate anyone’s thoughts on bowing out of the valentines exchange (while still receiving the goodie bags from the families that to participate)

In the past we’ve given out play dough, mini play packs, bubble wands, & non-candy snacks that are valentines theme with a to/from on packaging such as apple sauce pouches, pretzels, veggie chips, fruit snacks, etc.

Mini cheese balls

At what age does this start? Have a 2.5 yr old and wasn’t thinking about this at all 🙈

Love a pop-it keychain, they always get lost and they’re great to stash for restaurants, etc.

Can always use more bubbles or playdough

Stickers are fun… or bandaids, kids love bandaids 😂

We are doing fruit snacks (2-3 year old class)

2yo- Organic fruit pouches from Costco “you’re my main squeeze” 4yo- water colors from Amazon “you color my world”

I don’t judge anyone who doesn’t give out treats because you never know their financial situation. This year, I’m giving out animal legos (not branded), a few pieces of chocolate, stickers and a wooden heart craft to color. My kid loves legos and crafts so I usually share gifts of the things she likes to do.

Play doh gets used. Depending on toddlers age I’ve done markers or crayons.

Dollar tree and Aldi has amazingly cheap but super cute Valentine’s with some sort of junk toy or arts/craft, sticker.

A craft

We do apple sauce pouches. This year I got the strawberry apple ones from Trader Joe’s since they’re pink.

Pretty much everyone at my child’s daycare participates. We historically have done snacks (I.e. fruit snacks, pretzels, pouches, etc.), not candy. However, toys/arts and crafts activities are also popular, and we’re doing bubble wands this year.

We’re doing different types of treats (a few Kisses, a mini bag of Skittles, and something else that I’m forgetting right now), as I personally strongly dislike the little trinkets that last for five minutes or so before getting trashed. It’s just more clutter for us, especially since we have three kids. I usually default to something edible, since if the kids aren’t allowed to have it, someone will? I’ve done $2 pastries (a Paris Baguette Teddy Bear snack) in the past too. I would honestly prefer not to do anything, but will support my kids if they want to do it and it makes financial sense to do so.

My daughter chose a variety pack from Amazon. No candy this year. The school sent a note home about not choosing candy with Red Dye no. 3.