The history of Valentine’s Day for kids<\/h2>
There are differing theories of how Valentine’s Day started. By some accounts, the holiday has origins in a Roman festival called Lupercalia<\/a>, which was celebrated in the middle of February as a way to usher in springtime. There was also a romantic aspect to Lupercalia, where symbols of fertility were celebrated and men and women were matched to one another.<\/p> Other scholars attribute Valentine’s Day celebrations to a priest named Valentine<\/a> who lived around 270 C.E. Legend has it that during Valentine’s lifetime, Emperor Claudius II of Rome had banned marriage, but Valentine defied him and performed marriage ceremonies anyway. <\/p> Valentine was subsequently thrown in jail, where he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote a “valentine” to his lover. This may have been the first official valentine! In the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I declared the date of Valentine’s death as St. Valentine’s Day, though the day wasn’t associated with romance for several more centuries.<\/p> In addition to learning about the history of Valentine’s Day, it can be fun for kids to hear some fun facts about the holiday. They can even use these facts to wow their friends! Some fun Valentine’s Day kids’ facts you can share with your kids include:<\/p> If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate, here are some fun and entertaining Valentine’s Day activities for kids to make the day extra sweet.<\/p> You’re probably familiar with the idea of Christmas movies, but what you might not know is that there are actually a bunch of super cute Valentine’s Day movies<\/a>, too. Gems like “Be My Valentine,” “Charlie Brown” and “Gnomeo and Juliet” are the perfect way to spend a cold winter night.<\/p> Looking for fun, super easy treats to whip up with your kids on Valentine’s Day? Enter: Fairy Bread<\/a>. Lauren Tingley, a mom of two, elementary school teacher and creator of the blog Simply Well Balanced<\/a>, says fairy bread is her go-to because it’s easier than cookies but still fun and festive.<\/p> “All you need is bread, butter, sprinkles and cookie cutters,” she says. “You simply spread the butter on the bread, throw on a few sprinkles, cut the bread into fun shapes and you’ve got Fairy Bread!”<\/p> Donna Paul<\/a>, a Montessori elementary teacher and co-creator of That’s So Montessori<\/a>, recommends an activity she calls “candy heart estimation.” This is traditionally a classroom activity, but it can easily be adopted to use at home.<\/p> Basically, you fill a large jar with candy hearts each morning and give kids a crack at guessing how many hearts are inside. Paul suggests starting the activity a week before Valentine’s Day and switching up the number of hearts in the jar each day, ensuring it’s an exciting and fresh challenge.<\/p> “At the beginning, their guesses are random, but as the days go by, they start using what they’ve learned from previous days to make more thoughtful guesses,” Paul shares. “It’s a hands-on way to practice estimating, and as they reflect on their guesses, they get better and better.”<\/p> Dr. Jenny Woo<\/a>, a mom of three and the founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion<\/a>, practices a fun Valentine’s Day family tradition. Her family found a unique spin on the idea of a gratitude jar<\/a>, transforming it into a “be my valentine” jar. “For each day during the two weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, we each write a short note or draw something for another family member expressing our appreciation for something they did or said,” Woo shares. <\/p> On V-day, her family gathers and takes turns reading the notes out loud. “It’s a heartwarming experience to hear words of love and gratitude from one another,” she says.<\/p> Making Valentine’s Day cards<\/a> is an awesome tradition. For a fun twist, consider challenging kids to make the cards only with items they already have at home. Take out some paper and glue, then have kids scavenge the house for decorations. This might include things like cut outs from magazines, old cards, wrapping paper — and don’t forget colorful cereal, candy and macaroni.<\/p> Doing art projects is a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day for kids, especially with an educational twist. Kristen Miller, director of education at Celebree School<\/a>, suggests a project that combines the tradition of making paper hearts with learning about symmetry. All you need is a pencil and paper, some scissors, paint and a sponge-tip paint brush. Here’s how to do it:<\/p> Do you have a kid who enjoys doing science experiments<\/a>? Here’s a simple and fun one that you can do with items you have around the house. All you need is a large glass or pitcher, some candy hearts, water, baking soda and vinegar. Let Miss Brittany at the Campbell County Public Library<\/a> in Kentucky walk you through it.<\/p>Find 29 million families who’ve turned to Care<\/h2>Background-checked care for all you love<\/span>
Interesting facts about V-Day<\/h2>
Activities for kids<\/h2>
1. Let the kids watch a Valentine’s Day movie<\/h2>
2. Make fairy bread<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/01\/plate-of-heart-shaped-fairy-bread-for-kids.jpg\")
3. Practice estimation with candy hearts<\/h2>
4. Create a “be my valentine” jar<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/01\/Jenny-Woo.png\")
5. Make homemade Valentine’s Day cards<\/h2>
6. Heart symmetry painting<\/h2>
7. Dancing candy hearts<\/h2>