Valentine’s day – something to look forward to after the ball drops
Our favorite consolation prize for the Holidays being over is upon us – Valentine’s day! It may be a fabricated season of love but what’s not to love about love? Love is love is love is love (Heart). Plus in Anetaland, we don’t need an excuse to join in on any celebration. Especially a celebration that involves copious amounts of chocolate, flowers, tender notes, pretty handmade crafts, and the adult wisdom that each person should be their own number one Valentine.
Best Cupid and strike kids with love… of learning
This week, we share some tactical ways to use Valentine’s day mania to advance the cause of getting kids to fall in love – with learning of course.
Being part of the reason why a child falls in love with learning is a thrill. Plus, it automatically makes you better than any Cupid. Own that superpower – even if you have no desire to be in competition with a naked Cherub.
So here’s some stuff you can do.
Make Valentine’s day themed books part of your celebration ritual
Why should eating chocolates be the ritual for Valentine’s day? Some smart chocolatiers capitalized on an opportunity over the years and now it seems so integral. We thank all the marketing folks in publishing houses who have realized the power of Valentine’s day hype even for young kids. There are umpteen thousand books for all reader stages with Valentine’s day themes. We love this! (We also love chocolate by the way). Val’s day books are awesome practice for the language arts. The shine of Valentine’s day rubs onto these books and makes kids somewhat more eager to devour them.
Your local library will have hordes of books in theme. If you’re in the position to, gift kids a Valentine’s day themed book along with the teddy or the chocolate or whatever else you have to delight them. There is a catch – it is not just about giving the books, the books have to be read. You read to them, let them read to you, let them read to the dog, the cat, the hamster… The ritual counts only if the books are read.
Squeeze out every ounce of literary benefit from Valentine’s day cards
Val’s day cards are like the TikTok of Val’s day books. Whether you make them or consume them, they are tiny bits of practice for the language arts – on top of all the warm fuzzy feelings they produce.
If you can find the energy, let kids make the cards for their friends instead of buying cards. Handmade cards are the cherry on top because you can get the kids to practice their writing and reading! If Little Kennedy writes even just “Love Kennedy” on a piece of paper for 30 friends, that is a lot of handwriting practice! You can ask older kids to be more thoughtful and write an affirmation for each friend. (Thanks Ms. Crystal for this awesome idea!). The point is, use the season as the reason and you can get more collaboration from even kids who don’t enjoy making.
Slap ‘Valentine’s day in front of any beneficial activity and trigger FOMO
Put a countdown on anything and it increases the appeal to try to do it before that time runs out. Oh humans 🙂.
FOMO is real even for little ones so yes, you can use that to get them to indulge in activities that do them good. Here is a list of things you can turn into Valentine’s day related activities to get them excited.
- Valentine’s day crafts – think of all the creativity juices and fine motor skills they’ll get
- Valentines day piano/flute/violin/insert musical instrument recital – give them a goal to finish that piece they’ve been working on
- Valentines day Karaoke – just a reason for you to be silly with the kids. It breeds respect.
- Valentines day dance competition – another reason for you to be silly with the kids
- Valentines day scavenger hunt – this is some work but if you’re up to it, a good excuse to spend time with the kids.
Ok, that should do it for this week. But before you go, here is another tip dear reader. Don’t ever research the history of Valentine’s day – it may well strip away the joy, wonder, and romance of the day. It is one time we will encourage ignorance in Anetaland.
