Valentine's Day - Jackson,NJ

i am making chocolate covered pretzels.. or chocolate dipped... only a little chocolate. I melt 2 bars of hersheys chocolate in a pot... I put the pot on top of another pot- the bottom pot has about 2 cups of water.. and then the pot on top has the chocolate.. Like a double boiler.. melt the chocolate.. dip the pretzel in... I also sometimes use sprinkles or tiny bead candy.. found in near the sprinkles at the store... kids love them.. i also send in a few without chocolate.. since some kids like them plain good luck!!

Hi. My son is allergic to chocolate (and not a candy kid) so each year a find a valentine dot to dot, maze, etc and add a pencil for each of his classmates.
Happy Valentine's.

As a teacher, I agree that the candy gets to be too much. You could go to the dollar store and find 12 packs of holiday pencils and erasers for the kids. Kids love stickers at that age or stuffed animals, which are also at the dollar store.
For the teachers (oh, and we don't consider gifts bribery, as I have seen on some responses!)candy and mugs aren't a good idea! Classroom supplies, like tissues, paper towels, lysol wipes, even nice pens (LOVE PENS!)and copy paper would be very much appreciated. We spend a lot of our own money on that kind of stuff because the districts either don't provide it or by this time of year, the school is out of it. You can get a lot of school/classroom supplies at the dollar store, too. A valentine to the teacher made by the kids telling them how much they appreciate their teacher is a great thing to do, attach it to the gift. Good luck!

I made rice krispy treats last year for my 8 year olds. I added red food coloring to the marshmallows when melting them to make them pink. Then I spread them out on a cookie sheet to set. Then I cut them with different sized heart shaped cookie cutters. I placed a candy conversation heart in the center of each one. My girls loved helping make these. As far as a gift for the teacher, I never heard of giving a gift - I think a home made valentine from your child would suffice and be special.
Happy heart day,
K. G.

Go to Target, and check out their $1.00 section. Often, they have really cute, seasonal stuff!

As a former teacher, I know that I LOVED gift cards! Starbucks, Target, etc. But that being said, it's really not necessary. A cool, handmade card from each child is definitely the sweetest gift! Or maybe homemade cookies? Yum!

For the kids go online to scholastic book clubs and get them all a Valentine's book at a great price of $1. All their flyers have one or more books each month for $1 and it makes a great gift.

For the teacher, I usually go for a $10 Dunkin donuts gift card. Something they can really use!!

I am going to make popcorn balls with my son for his nursery school. We are planning on dying them pink and wrapping them in heart-patterned plastic wrap with a tag with each kid's name on them. My plan for dying them pink is to mix it with the marshmallow mix that holds the popcorn together.

just an idea. at the dollar store you can find a coffe mug for valentines day (hearts on it) and fill it with candy. then also at the dollar store they have stuffed animals for valetines day put that with the mug. buy a clear bag add some potpoure to the bottom and tie it with a bow. i have done this in the past and the teachers love it. also a great gift for the bus drivers.

How about a box of heart shaped cookies(home made is even better) or stickers? As for the teacher, you can find note pads with cute saying on them.

Good luck

I like rice krispy treats or heart shaped sugar cookies. You can "glam" them up with some decorations- like you would top a cupcake with? or sugar sprinkles - There are all sorts of cute cake decorations for valentine's day you can use. Check in the baking aisle at the grocery store.

I always hated all the candy that home. I know it's the thought that counts, but my kids really didn't need it and most of it went into the garbage.

How about stickers, erassers, coloring/activity book, deck of cards.

For the teacher, a homemade card from your child. Do you bake? - a small plate of cookies. Although I'm not a fan of gift cards, I know teacher's can really use them.

Stickers and coloring books are always a great gift for little ones. For food items my mom once made us cupcakes inside the small ice cream cones (the ones with the flat bottoms), the entire thing is edible and the kids and even the teachers loved it.

I like the cute stuff in Target or Micheal's dollar bins. Little notepads & such. I know my 5 yr old loves the notepad w/pen from Michaels. She keeps it in her backpack & writes notes with her friends on the bus. You can get them for $1 or sometimes 50 cents.
Goof luck

Well you could just give the class valentine's and no candy. your really not supposed to give teachers anthing because it's considered bribery. yes i know that sounds stupid, but it's true.

go to the dollar tree,(not sure where u live but i love the one in levittown) you can do valentines coloring books,stickerbooks,puzzles,stamp sets,they have the giant pencils and plenty of valentines theme things. they have cute things for the teachers like candles,lotions, ceramic pieces,picture frames, glass candy dishes,vases.
good luck!

I like to send Pretzel Sticks with different dips. Fun and everyone has choices. Smiles :)

I feel the same way about candy filled bags. How about stickers or temp tattoos?

I use to baby sit for a couple teachers and they definately don't need lotion, candles etc. I use to paint small flower pots in a holiday theme (white with red hearts for valentines day) and pick up a $3.00 plant to put in it. Quick, easy, and thoughtful.

How about Rice Krispie Treats?

They are easy to make, inexpensive and everyone loves them. LOL. You can even get strawberry (or chocolate)flavored marshmallows to make them with.

I've never heard of not giving gifts to a teacher because it's considered bribery, like another person suggested. Maybe different schools have different policies on it, I don't know.

Do you have a Dollar Tree near you? You can pick up pencils and such with V-day themes. If nothing else, get a couple packs of pencils for the teacher, maybe a pack of pens, erasers, etc. Make up a little basket of stuff, they can always use that sort of thing, especially if a kid runs out of pencils or erasers.

The other thing at Dollar Tree is those pretty hanging decorations for outside. (I hang them on my porch) they have several different ones, some are long and narrow and spin, some are shaped and spin. Very pretty for adding a little touch of color. I bet a teacher might like something like that.

Grab a copy of Feruary edition of the magazine "Family Fun"! They have 10 great ideas for special Valentines for both kids and teachers. My favorite is for teachers. You trace your childs hands and cut them out. Tape them to a plastic cup and in the plastic cup you put a tube of hand lotion! Very inexpensive and always useful! My oldest is in 2nd grade and plan on using that idea for both her teachers! The 10 ideas are very easy and budget friendly. A.