Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Kids (That Aren’t Food or Candy)

Let’s face it: your kids are probably going to get more than enough sugar at school this year when February 14th rolls around. But you, the loving parent, still want to give them something sweet for Valentine’s Day. Here are some suggestions that will last longer than a sugary treat:

– A book! Amazon.com has a whole section for Valentine’s Day children’s books. Younger kids might enjoy Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! Older kids might prefer a Twilight-style paranormal romance. But no matter how sweet the love story, it’ll still be better for their teeth than a box of candy.

– A night out! Take your kids out on a date; maybe for a movie, maybe for a local kid-friendly concert or play, or maybe to a local zoo or museum. Of course, at any of these places you’ll have to be prepared to not purchase popcorn…

– A T-shirt! Supplement their wardrobe with something they can wear all year round. Girls of a certain age may enjoy a lovely and festive Justin Bieber heart shirt, but your mileage may vary. There are tons of kids t-shirts out there to suit any of your child’s interests.

– Art supplies! New paint, clay, or stamps will keep your kids happy and encourage their creativity. There are plenty of kits out there, but depending on the craft you want to do, as well as your own expertise, you can usually get a better deal buying the required supplies individually.

– An iTunes gift card! Seriously, your kids will think you are outdated if you try to give them a “CD.” Of course, this is only a useful gift if your kids are old enough to have their own MP3 player. You can buy iTunes gift cards right online, as well as at many grocery stores.

– A board game! You can find a fun game for kids of any age, from Hi Ho, Cherry O for pre-schoolers to Apples to Apples for teens. You can find Hi Ho, Cherry O for around $10 – the fun your kids have with it will be endless, at least until they lose all of the tiny plastic cherries in the carpet.

Renata Sancken writes for T-shirts.com, which had shirts for both kids and adults. Renata isn’t afraid to admit that if she got that Justin Bieber shirt for Valentine’s Day, she wouldn’t be upset.