Valentine’s Party for Kids

Host Bee on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Treat your Kids to the Sweetest Valentine’s Party!

A Planning Guide for the Perfect Candy Themed Celebration!

February is a great time of year to add a bit of warmth to those cold winter days and a Valentine’s Day party for your kids might be perfect to do just that. Whenever I think about Valentine’s Day, I inevitably end up picturing candy – candy of all sorts! From conversation hearts to chocolate truffles to red hots, it’s the candy that makes the holiday for me! Not only are the Valentine treats delicious, they also make a wonderful party theme that kids and adults will love!

Valentines Party Invitations

Conversation Heart Inspired – One of my favorite ways to invite Valentine guests is to attach a card, printed with the party details, to a box of conversation hearts!
Red Hots Inspired – Another DIY idea involving candy is to glue red hots in the shape of a heart onto a card, with the invitation inside. Attach a box of red hots to this invitation as well.
Personalized Candy Hearts – Adorable personalized invitations are also available and require no crafting! From Birthday In a Box* there’s a cute card (Conversation Hearts Personalized Invitation – pictured) with a candy heart border and another from Fine Stationery* which features a scattering of candy hearts! (Candy Hearts Invitation)

Heart Lollipops – And if you’re ready for an “over the top” candy invitation, you just have to consider the die cut version from Itty Bitty! (Heart Lollipop Invitation) This unique card is a heart shaped red and white lollipop, on a stick, sprinkled with glitter and wrapped in cellophane with ribbon ties!

Valentines Party Decorations

Of course, candy will take center stage at this party! Here are some different ways to incorporate candy into your tablescape!

Candy Heart Helium Balloons – balloons always add a festive touch and these are perfectly thematic! (Latex Conversation Heart Balloons)
A Candy Buffet – this idea will not only be decorative but will also provide a delicious party favor! Fill a variety of differently sized glass containers with all of the Valentine candy favorites: candy hearts, red licorice in a tall, thin container, lollipops, pink and red jelly beans and more! At the end of the party, let each guest fill a cellophane bag with their favorite treats!
Candy Flower Pots – this idea came from Dylan Lauren, the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City! Using white ceramic pots, she filled each container with jelly beans, red hots and rock candy and then “planted” large and small lollipops in each pot. (Candy Flower Pots Centerpiece – pictured)

Candy Resources

Paper Goods

Candy Heart Themed – Birthday in a Box offers candy heart themed paper goods that coordinate with the invitation above in a deluxe party set!
Valentine’s Cupcake Themed – Another cute option from Plates and Napkins sports my favorite motif – a cupcake – decorated for Valentine’s Day and surrounded with a heart border! Plates, cups and napkins are available. (Valentines Day Cupcake Paper Goods)
Not Paper Goods! – If you prefer dishes that can be used again and again, Target has some really festive choices – there are heart shaped dishes in candy colors, coordinating serving bowls and adorable pink and white candy dishes in two sizes! (I might need these!)

Valentines Party Activities

Games

Candy Heart Charades – fill a bowl with candy hearts and take turns acting out the message on the candy!
Candy Heart Treasure Hunt – hide candy hearts around the house, give each guest a small bag and vie to see who can find the most hearts! Have a prize for the winner!
Find Your Heart Mate – cut out one red, paper heart for every two guests at the party. With scissors, cut each paper heart in half in a variety of patterns and angles. Give one half to each guest and play fun music while each one finds the “other half.”

Valentines Party Crafts

Here are some crafts with two levels of difficulty:

Super Easy Crafts

Conversation Heart Beads – Set out bowls of foam conversation hearts and varying lengths of cord and let the kids go to town making bracelets and necklaces! (Foam Conversation Heart Beads)
Valentine Sticker Scenes – Purchase 12 Design Your Own Giant Valentine Village Sticker Scenes! This set includes a background with a sweet village just waiting to be decorated with all sorts of candy stickers!

Slightly More Challenging Crafts

Valentine Candy Magnet Craft Kit - this set includes three different magnet designs including an ice cream cone, gum ball machine and a milk shake! (Valentine Treat Candy Magnet Craft Kit)
Sweetheart Candy Wreaths – for this cute craft you’ll need: a Styrofoam wreath (you can select the size), ribbon, candy conversation hearts and glue. Wrap the Styrofoam wreath with ribbon, securing each end with glue. Glue the candy hearts in overlapping layers around the wreath. Let dry and add a ribbon hanger. (Sweetheart Candy Wreaths and see Create for Less for styrofoam wreaths.)

Heart Shaped Pizza – If it’s pizza that’s demanded, go ahead and cut it into heart shapes!
Pasta with Red or Pink Sauce – If pasta fits the bill, red or pink sauce will turn it into a terrific Valentine’s dinner!
Heart Shaped Sandwiches - Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to turn any type of sandwich into a sweet snack!
More Fun Ideas – For some additional ideas, take a look at Valentine Treats for School!

Valentines Day Party Favors

Party Favors for Girls

If you create craft projects during the party, the finished products can easily be your party favor, as well as gift bags filled from a candy buffet. Some other cute favors that suit this sweet theme include:

Party Favors for Boys

I know that the favors mentioned above are totally for girls, and so if you are inviting some young gentlemen to your Valentine soiree, just plan to send them home with all sorts of candy!