It's hard to believe that we are already in the middle of February. That means we are gearing up for Valentine's Day, or Kindness Day as we call it. We know this can be an exciting time for your kiddos, and brainstorming ideas for class valentines can be a lot of fun. Below are some guidelines to help you keep it light and stress-free:
1. We maintain our nutrition policy even on Friendship Day, so please do not send candy or sugary sweets because teachers will not disseminate them. Please make sure you don't put your child in this position.
2. There are many fantastic and popular ways to make candy-free valentines. Kid favorites include mini-Playdoh, small plastic animals, healthy snacks, stickers, pencils/pens, bubbles, and anything craft-like. The most treasured valentines are kind notes with personalized drawings. If you want to knock it out of the park, check out Pinterest. The opportunities are endless.
3. You can ask your child's teacher for a class roster of names to ensure that everyone receives a valentine from your child. Please be mindful of everyone's feelings and only send in valentines if you've included everyone. There's no pressure to personalize them. You can also send in enough for everyone in the homeroom class without any names attached.
4. While you may be tempted to send your child a beautiful, extravagant display of your love that includes balloons, teddy bears, and heart-shaped boxes, please don't ask the teachers to present this for you at school. We have many children with deployed parents, and this makes it harder. In addition, this is a treasured teaching day for us, and, believe it or not, massive displays of affection can be very distracting.
5. "Valentine's Day" can become rather stressful for young adolescents as students often begin that awkward talk about crushes and secret admirers. Preserve your child's childhood and make this day about goodwill and friendship. The teachers will do their best to make sure that all celebrations are in the classroom, not personal level. Please help us by ensuring your child is not bringing trinkets for a special friend or group of friends.
6. For many children, working on a craft with a parent is more exciting than giving or receiving valentines. We encourage you to have fun together and don't worry about the final product. This is an excellent opportunity to grow some fond memories.
