Anonymous wrote:What do you guys think of these? Not enough?

https://www.orientaltrading.com/eric-carle-valenti...ticker-sheets-a2-13820220.fltr

These are perfect!

What do you guys think of these? Not enough?

https://www.orientaltrading.com/eric-carle-valenti...ticker-sheets-a2-13820220.fltr

Do what's easy. do NOT give out candy, most parents will be unhappy and teachers won't love trying to keep candy from their toddlers, causing tantrums.

Frankly, it's all lost on children this age and I wouldn't do anything (as a teacher) than having a party where everyone wears red for the day, plays with red playdough and if you have a party, has snack on red plates. BUT teachers feel like parents want something more so they do it.

It varies from just the cards, some include stickers or tattoos (those were popular with my kids), some candy or cute pencils. Don't sweat it, whatever you do will be fine.

My daughter is 3 and has been in preschool/daycare since she was 10 months. They didn't start doing anything for Valentine's Day until she was in the 2s class. Some parents put together little goodie bags, while others do cards.

One thing our center does do is ask that you don't write kids' names on the cards, since they want the kids to hand out the gifts to their friends, and obviously kids this age can't read.

Anonymous wrote:It's a complete waste of effort for that age group.
You have a decade of Valentine cards in your future, OP, or more if you have multiple kids. Best not to start now...

Don't listen to that PP. It does not matter if it's a store card, an elaborate goodie or something in between, it's cute to participate and appreciated by all.

-Daycare teacher.

For the past two years (age 2 and 3), we used valentines from a Paper Source kit where you could mix and match animal bodies/heads (with mermaid tails thrown into the mix). DD had fun assembling them with a glue stick - only had to do 10-12 of them, though. Last year we also attached a packet of Annie's fruit snacks.

Red paper with your child's handprint is sweet.

My kids' daycare, preschool and now school have not allowed candy with Valentines, so check first if that is your plan, but I say go with the straightforward card at that age. A box of 16 will set you back a few dollars at Target (or $1 at the Dollar Store!)

It's a complete waste of effort for that age group.
You have a decade of Valentine cards in your future, OP, or more if you have multiple kids. Best not to start now...

The first year my DD was in a big daycare, I did just a card and it was fine but everyone else gave out the cards that had something in them (stickers, temporary tattoos, erasers, even candy). I doubt anyone cared at all, though. I certainly wouldn't care and my kids would not notice if we got a card. It is the thought that counts.

Since then, I've done little cards with erasers or temporary tattoos for younger kids. They're usually $3 for 12 at Target. This year I spent $6 for 48 from Oriental Trading to cover both kids' classes. This is our first year giving out candy.

Some parents do a lot more - a few parents gave out bags of candy, another parent one year gave out hand made heart-shaped hand warmers. I think it really depends on how into it the parents are.

those grocery store cards are fine. some people will go overboard, but some do the minimum. don't sweat it.

We just started at a new daycare/preschool. My daughter is 21 months and the class ranges from 18 months to 24 months. They are having a little valentines party and its encouraged to bring little valentines for all 15 kids. Do people still just do little cards? Or should I be doing something more like a little box of crayons with a cute saying or stickers?

I don't want to go overboard and look silly, but don't want to do the opposite either!