This year, I put together Valentine boxes for each of my daughters (ages 10, 7, 4). Since our baby boy is just shy of five months old, he’ll be content with hugs & kisses…which he gets in plenty.
I appreciate that Valentine’s Day gives me an extra chance to tell my children how much I adore and admire them.
Here’s how I put the boxes together.
Because we are a family that enjoys literature, I started with books. I have found that most of the Valentine’s Day themed books on the market tend to be saccharine and silly without meaningful or memorable plots. As a result, I hand-selected pink, red, white, floral, or fancy picture books that have notable themes of love or endearment.
For your reference, here are the books I included:
- A is for Annabelle written & illustrated by Tasha Tudor
- A Secret Garden (Little Golden Book) written by Frances Hodgson Burnett & illustrated by Brigette Barrager
- Flicka, Rika, Dicka and The Strawberries written & illustrated by Maj Lindman
- Henry’s Bright Idea written by Lauren Bradshaw
- How Do I Love Thee? written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning & illustrated by Mati Rose McDonough
- I Carry Your Heart With Me written by E.E. Cummings & illustrated by Mati Rose McDonough
- Sleeping Beauty: Based on the Original Story illustrated by by Sarah Gibb
Next up – chocolate! See’s Candies has adorable options for kids this year. Choose a puppy, a kitten, a panda, or a simple heart with an assortment of high-quality chocolates. Cute packaging + melt-in-your-mouth treats! You can buy the chocolate boxes online, but I think it’s much easier to swing by your local store (you’ll get a free sample too!). Most of the Valentine-themed kid boxes range in price from $7-$14. P.S. Pick up some Hot Hearts for yourself too – chewy cinnamon candies with just the right amount of kick!
Also in the boxes – notecards! We are all letter-writers and Valentine’s Day is as good a time as any to pen notes to friends. The poetry sets by Princeton Architectural Press are a gorgeous and intelligent pick for older kids and teens. Each boxed set includes 12 cards (4 quotes – 3 cards of each) with corresponding envelopes. Three to consider – Emily Dickinson, Henry David Thoreau, William Morris.
Sprinkle in a bit of Tasha Tudor. If you are unfamiliar with illustrator Tasha Tudor (1915-2008), Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to get acquainted. Her work is incredibly gorgeous and whimsical – nostalgic of simpler times and beautiful family traditions. You can buy A is for Annabelle on Amazon, but be sure to poke around the Tasha Tudor and Family website to pick up a set of the delightful Spring Secret Garden notecards and a number of other lovely items.
Finally, fill in the boxes with stickers, fun pens, and pencils.
Dover sticker books are perfect for this occasion – glitter roses, happy hedgehogs, desserts, and so many more fun options! $2 or less.
You’ll also want to check OOLY (formerly International Arrivals) – they have scented pens, choose-your-own-color pens, note tabs, and diamond stickers.
Neon Dixon Ticonderoga pencils are also great to add in because they will help your kids re-stock their backpacks for this final semester of school.
Last but not least, I designed a super simple printable to tell my kids 10 things that I love about them. On each line, I scribbled a few words – “kind heart,” “talented writer,” “very responsible,” “willing to try new things,” etc.
Oh, I forgot to mention the BOXES! I simply asked at my local See’s store if they had any old boxes that they were planning to throw away and they gave me three matching ones in a jiffy. When I got home, I hand-painted some small hearts on the front. Easy peasy.
What are your Valentine’s Day traditions? Favorite love-themed picture books?
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