For a holiday that’s supposed to celebrate love, Valentine’s Day certainly can bring out a lot of mixed feelings in people. Some of us (let’s be honest, mostly the men) stress about finding the right gift. Others swear off the “Hallmark holiday” entirely, refusing to recognize it in any way. The occasion can be pretty significant to many people, though. Several years back, a survey of Facebook users showed a noticeable post-V-Day jump in those reporting themselves as single. And the San Francisco group Bridgewatch Angels mobilizes volunteers each February 14th, to patrol the Golden Gate Bridge in hopes of stopping distraught individuals from jumping off.
You know who’s not conflicted about Valentine’s Day? Kids (at least, those too young to decide any display of sentiment is gross). You probably remember a valentine exchange from your elementary-school classroom. I’m betting it wasn’t exactly fraught with drama. That’s because kids happily exchange cards with all their friends, eat the heart-shaped Valentine candy and sugar cookies without blinking an eye, and don’t give one thought to whether they’ll be in the dog house because they forgot to order flowers.
There were some definite advantages to childhood, right?
In celebration of Valentine’s Day (and the joy of youth!), we’re excited to offer these adorable valentine cards as a FREE download this week. They can be printed at home, personalized by your child, and shared with others. They’re perfect for a card exchange with your homeschool group — be sure to read Bridgitt’s post from last Thursday, with ideas for planning a party! it’s not too late! — or just as a way of letting friends and relatives know how much they mean to your kids.
Every card has one of those silly puns you expect on Valentine’s Day, and with ocean, dinosaur, and nature themes available, your child can choose a favorite or mix them up. We think there’s enough variety to please everybody … even the boys.
Two different types of printable cards are available for download:
- standard valentine cards (like the ones you remember from your own days at school!) with a design on one size and greeting on the back,
- treat bag toppers that can be attached to a plastic zipper bag to give candy, cookies or a small gift.
Both types of valentines include a Bible verse (I John 4:19) on the back, to help your kids share Christ’s love with others.
To use the treat bag toppers, cut apart the 3 designs on each page. Fold each one in the middle (on the longest edge). Put treats or gifts in the zipper bag, seal it, then insert it between the two sides of the bag topper. Staple at both ends to secure.
Both designs should be printed on a standard size (8.5″x11″) paper. We recommend card stock for the best results.
Download your copies here:
Nature, Ocean, & Dinosaur Valentine Cards
(please note the 4th page is the back side for the first 3)
My kids can’t wait to share these at our homeschool Valentine’s Day party this year! Instead of giving candy or cookies in our treat bags, we picked out some silly erasers, plus miniature dinosaurs and sea creatures. (Ours came from Amazon; I’m sure you could find something similar at dollar stores or Walmart.) They’re inexpensive, and since our group’s parties always include lots of treats, the toys are a nice alternative to taking home even more sweets … not to mention, nobody’s allergic to a tiny T-Rex.
I hope you enjoy these as much as we’ve enjoyed creating them. Please share with friends, and be sure to visit — and LIKE — our Facebook page to see posts with encouragement, homeschooling tips, and printables as we publish them! You’ll find lots more downloads on our ‘Resources’ page, too … always FREE for everyone who subscribes to our email list.
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!
Don’t forget … click on the link below to download these FREE printables!
Nature, Ocean, & Dinosaur Valentine Cards
Valentine Treat Bag Toppers
For more printable valentine cards
for family & special friends,
visit last year’s post, The Best Gifts.
