Hi Moms - any good ideas for small (inexpensive) gifts to hand out in a 4th grade classroom for Valentine's Day? We've been asked not to bring in candy. In years past I've done pencils and erasers, pencils and little tablets. Running out of ideas. Anything you've done that's been easy, cheap and a hit with 9-10 year olds?
Sometimes I think they should just call it what it is and stop trying to take the fun out of holiday's. I appreciate a classroom that has a party and it's fun with lots of food and junk to eat. It's a holiday not a diet day...poor kiddo's.
Maybe next year you can put in that either they need to not celebrate or allow what ever the kids want to bring.
Ugh. I hate that.
I would rather my kid get a bunch of candy (that I can help them eat... Lol.) than a bunch of useless junk that just gets thrown away.
I get the idea of trying to cut back the amount of sugar kids are getting... But still. Lol. (Healthy snacks are good, but they can get pricy to buy!)
Maybe you could make up a big batch of play-dough, (the kind you cook with cream of tartar is the best one I have found...) and separate it into little cups. At least dough is fun! Lol. You could probably make it in pink and red, or put a heart on the container to make it valentine-ey.
::::::::::::grouchy crone warning::::::::::::::
what's the point of exchanging cheap crappy candy that no one wants their kids to have for cheap crappy gifts that are going to end up in the trash?
why can't kids just give each other a little valentine and be done?
why does EVERYTHING have to come with shopping required?
do kids really need to feel as if everything has a gift attached?
:::::::::::rant off:::::::::::::
khairete
S.
I ordered a boatload of Valentines bookmarks that are also 6 inch rulers. They are from Oriental Trading Company. I am putting them on a card that says, "Friend, You Rule! Happy Valentine's Day"
All three of our kids will have ample "gifts" to give to friends and it was fairly cheap..and sugar free! Get on Pinterest, there are so many ideas on there.
Our 2nd grader gives them to the whole class. Our 6th and 8th grader will take a bunch and pass out to friends of their choosing.
Chap sticks, stamps with pads (Micheal's has the little ones)
Cuties, Little bags of Gold fish or other small bags of snacks. Little boxes Raisins or cranberries.
I like to go to the craft stores or the drug store like Walgreens.
Decorated Bandaids, weird toys, glow sticks etc..
The sporting goods stores sometimes have the hand warmers and other strange things there also.
fruit chews, they are packaged in valentines wrap
Temporary tattoos, bookmarks, bouncy balls
I was just wandering the holiday isle at Walmart and there are a ton of little items that you could use. Good luck.
For one class I'm doing cuties
Another crazy straws
Another paper airplane cards.
TONs of cute candy free ides on Pinterest.
My 4th graders teacher banned the loom bands because she has had so many on the floor since school started this year!
Is it a requirement to hand out gifts? If not, I'd simply hand out the little valentine cards and call it a day. Many of those come with a sticker or tattoo attached. $3 or less and you're done!
I laughed at the comment about 4th grade "getting old". My 6th grader's class is having a valentines party too.
This year we are doing crazy straws that say, Sip-Sip Hooray! It's Valentine's Day! Simple and cheap, my daughters class will have a party with juice so they will all be able to test out their straws. :)
How about a pre-packaged valentine craft. They have the little "kits" at Hobby Lobby or Michaels
That's tough because they are getting old. Actually I am,surprised they do,that in 4th grade. Guess you can look,in the Target $1.00 aisle. Sorry that's all I can come up with. They say no,candy. How about bags of pretzels or a snack of sorts.
Bookmarks
Stamps w/ink pad
Colorful rubber bracelets for the girls
Festive socks from the Dollar Store
Little plastic pencil holders (the slim skinny kind)
Baseballs
Penants for the boys
Frisbees (boys)
Sport plaques (4 the boys. can find them @ the big stores like Walmart,
Target, fabric stores etc). They are flat pieces of wood in shapes of
basketballs, footballs, baseballs etc.
How about the gold coin dollars? I figure if you are going to spend a dollar on a trinket, just give them the dollar! They will be very excited about having their own money.
organic fruit snacks--Annies
Rainbow loom either bands with a hook (saw some at Target) or bracelets that are already made?
Loom bands?
Small toys, like spikey balls?
