Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I’m mostly excited. Admittedly, a small part of me dreads how the day of love invites large quantities of candy that I hate. At least Halloween grants the occasional Twix or Peppermint Pattie. Not Valentine’s Day though. No, on Valentine’s Day my kids come home from their school parties with Candy Hearts, Smarties, and all the gross stuff I just pretended to like in elementary school. I get it. Most of these are easily grabbed at the store and require zero prep work. If, however, you find yourself wanting to branch out for Valentine’s Day this year, I have good news for you. There are actually tons of adorable non-candy Valentine ideas out there! I’ve chosen ten of my favorites to share in this post.
Silly Straws
What kid (or adult) doesn’t love a silly straw? It’s a great way to show someone they’re exSTRAW special!
Pencils
Pencils disappear quickly at my house (into the same void as socks most likely). Getting new ones is always fun and even more so when they’re holiday-themed. You might say this Valentine is just WRITE!
Lip Balm
I would be delighted to receive this as a Valentine! Because it’s the BALM, of course.
Tiny Animal Toys
What better way to tell your Valentine that you’re WILD about them? There are many variations of this one—zoo animals, dinosaurs, farm animals, etc.
Matchbox Cars
If you’re kiddo is as car-obsessed as my son, we have found the perfect MATCH! Maybe this is how I will secretly cut down on the hundreds of cars that are literally everywhere in my house (jk…sort of).
Bubbles
Here’s a Valentine that will BLOW you away. Bubbles are always a hit!
Play doh
This will help anyone wanting to pop the big question: DOH you want to be my Valentine?
Stickers
My kids can’t get enough stickers! And as long as they stay off my walls and furniture, I’m cool with that. Plus it’s a great way to tell your BFF that you are STUCK on them.
Bookmarks
As a former English teacher, I have to say that this is number one in my BOOK. The great thing about bookmarks is you can decorate them with almost any theme or design imaginable.
Hand Sanitizer
Last year we squeezed in Valentine’s Day before coronavirus turned our world upside down. This year, mini hand sanitizers are a perfect Valentine because we all need to SPREAD LOVE NOT GERMS.
I’d love to hear your ideas for non-candy Valentines! What are you handing out this year?
