February is here, which means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Truth be told, Valentine’s Day has never been my favorite. For me, it’s right up there with Halloween 🙃. But now that I have kids, I’m trying to embrace it and use it as an excuse to emphasize love, kindness, and compassion (especially this year).
To show my kids a little extra love, I’ll put together a small package that usually includes one or two new books and maybe a little treat. Here’s the catch, though: I do not use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to go crazy on the sugar.
We are by no means a no-sugar household, but I also fully recognize the detriments of this ingredient on my kids’ health. So while we do indulge now & again, I do not buy into the idea that Valentine’s Day (or any other holiday) needs to be a day full of indulgence. We can share the love without sharing the blood sugar crashes 😉.
If you’re looking for either a cleaner candy option for you or your kids, or something that isn’t food at all, check out the list below! ❤️
(PS - I absolutely do not give all of these things! I pick & choose based on what the kids may need; sometimes it’s 1-2 things, sometimes it’s a little basket. Do what works for you & your family.)
Yum Earth heart gummies - cleaner ingredients, lower sugar
Unreal chocolates - again, cleaner ingredients, lower sugar
Hu chocolate - quality chocolate, lower in sugar
Heart pajamas - seasonal or themed jammies can be a fun gift, whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an Easter basket, or the holidays. I don’t always do this; it’s usually based on whether they need any at the time or not.
Heart socks - cute for a little sock lover
Books - anything that emphasizes love, kindness, friendship, etc. Very few of our “Valentine’s” books are about the holiday itself. Thrifted books, or handed-down books, are great options here!
Activity books - these are great for travel, hanging out at siblings’ games/practices, restaurants, waiting rooms, you name it. I’m really grateful that a few of our local bookstores carry this brand. We love them all…sticker books, magic paint, search & find, wipe clean!
Sensory toys - also great for everything listed in #7! We’ve done bubbles, squish balls, Squigz, etc.
Yoto cards or Tonies figures - these are an awesome screen-free tool that are used almost daily at our house. Yoto cards are more travel-friendly, but both are definitely used regularly!