I have to respect that they are trying to keep things safe for all the kids. And really do we "need" to have candy to have fun?? so good for you.
I don't usually have prizes for games at a class party but maybe you could do that to up the ante. usually kids in younger grades are working on identifing money or adding and subtracting money so maybe you could work that in.
Maybe something like Pizza for a snack, if you have the facilities they coudl make their own english muffin pizzas and top them how they want them, put the pepperoni in the shape of a heart.
or some sort of sandwiches cut in a hear shape, I love me some jello jigglers cut like hearts.
It would help a lot of have an age range. But that being said I"ll give you my list of classics and how you implement them can make it special.
You could buy or make bean bags in heart shapes or with a heart sewn on, They could toss them at a target. liek ea big bucket with a heart on it, they need to fill up the bucket.
You could pass a heart around a circle like hot potatoe when the music stops the person with the heart is the "winner"
Pin the cupid on the cloud, or heart or something
We usually play converation heart bingo and just make bingo cards that are appropriate for what ever age level and then use the conversation hearts as markers.
Decorate a limbo stick with some valentines garland. or ribbon
MY fav valentine game is basically musical chairs but instead of chairs you cut out some 1 foot square ish hearts out of heavy paper/cardstock. and place them around the room, each kid moves around the room when teh music is on, when it stops, they have to find a heart to stand on, they are allowed to share but only if htey have to. each time you turn the music back on take away a heart until at the end all the kids are crowding aroudn one heart ---could get crazy but remind them to be giving safe gentle "hugs" as they try to fit everyone's toe/foot on the ONE heart. this one is super good for about 12 kdis more than that and it gets a bit nuts but you owuld just stop when there are two or three hearts left.
Can't help you with crafts too much but there are usually a good amount of fun foam type things. if you can decorate a bag or box to be the valentine mailbox that is cute.
Oh i did think of one, it's just card stock but it's a ladybug/love bug, YOu cut out the body and use a brad to put two wings on top, then you move the wing out like it's flying and write a message on the body, when you lvoe the wings back it covers the message, you could get glittery heart stickers to decorate the wings.
I used to take photos of my preschoolers puckering up and put them up on a bulletin board with doilies it was soooo stinkin cute.
If you do pinterest you might find some lovely discoveries. Familyfun.com usually has great easy cheap crafts and activites. Marthastewart.com sometimes has some really darling ideas that can inspire you.
Good Luck and have a Loooovely time!
playlist- beatles all you need is love can get a little long
L is for the way you look tonight.. or something it spells out Love no idea of the artist but maybe michael buble covered it?
Walking on sunshine
