Valentine's Day gifts for kids?

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Just wondering if other mamas buy gifts for their children for Valentines Day?  I had never heard of giving gifts to children for V-Day, but a friend on Facebook was asking for options other than her usual "100's of dollars" that she usually spends on her kids.  I was shocked!  I usually do something fun like heart shaped pancakes and put DS in a red outfit, but that's it.  Now I am really curious!

[Alyantavid]

We do little cards and maybe a piece of candy.  Something Valentine-ish for dinner and usually some dessert, which we don't normally have.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Valentine's Day is not a big deal to us, but I did get the kids each a box of Valentine's Day peeps, some conversation hearts and a $15 iTunes gift card. I will probably do a scavenger hunt for the g.c.s because the kids enjoy that so much.

Plus I will put a Valentine's day joke in DS's lunchbox and a heart drawing in DD's.

-e

[ElaynesMom]

We get my dd something small for Valentines Day. Last year we got her a Mr. Potato Head. This year we'll get her a book, a small organic dark cholcolate bar and a pink rose, which should total less than 10$.

[A&A]

just cards.

[Drummer's Wife]

We normally do cards and a box of chocolates for each of them; sometimes a stuffed animal.  This year, however, they are getting a rock band ottoman and 3 new wii games.  Only b/c I wanted the ottoman for my own sanity so all the guitars, etc., can be neatly contained somewhere.  Speaking of, they were actually going to get a wii to replace the one that broke and I ended up giving it to them last week b/c we had a snowstorm that closed school for 4 days.  They will also be "getting" our current TV to use in another room for their video games as I have a bigger one coming the day after Valentines. 

None of this is really usual, though, but I did vote $25 + per kid.  Other years I would have voted $1-10 per kid, and lets hope I can do so next year (I'll be reminding them that this a special occasion, so they aren't expecting something similar in the future).

[EmsMom]

I like to give my kids something little.  This year they each get one of the small webkinz.  They ran about $5 apiece and they like to play webkinz together on the computer which somehow they can manage without fighting.  I will probably get them some heart shaped candy and maybe make some sugar cookies.  Oh, maybe we will make something too like window decorations or something.  I like to do things for holidays rather than buy things. 

[Maluhia]

I let her drip the beet juice into the panckae batter, does that count? 

[greenemami]

I will make strawberry chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast :) We are making cards and cookies for friends and family and I will probably make dd a card and do some extra snuggling, but no actual presents.  I wouldn't be surprised if dp picked something small up for the kids though.

[matey]

It never even occurred to me to get the children a gift for V day. But now that I think about it, my dad always got us little boxes of chocolates. Just for the girls, not for my brothers. I did spend a little money, under $10, on some little things to decorate Valentines and a Valentine's box, but they weren't gifts. Just stickers, tissue paper, cotton puff balls in V day colors. We do talk about Valentine's day a lot because Valentine is DS's middle name and my dad's middle name. My dad always called it his name day so I do the same thing with ds.

[Ornery]

We do little boxes of chocolates or something like that.  Nothing over $5 though.

[lolar2]

DS loves M&Ms more than anything, so for minor holidays like Valentine's Day, I tend to get him a little packet of holiday-themed M&Ms.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by greenemami 

I will make strawberry chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast :) We are making cards and cookies for friends and family and I will probably make dd a card and do some extra snuggling, but no actual presents.  I wouldn't be surprised if dp picked something small up for the kids though.

Recipe/instructions, please! (strawberry chocolate chip pancakes)
 

[Poddi]

I do, usually something small, like a few treats in a bag.  Occasionally I might put in new socks or underwear.  I do the same with DH, chocolate and underwear is traditional.  He'll never get a new camera or netbook or gold nugget for Valentine. :D

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Our family really doesn't celebrate Valentines day. I might make some fun food, but that is it. No gifts.

[amma_mama]

My Mom always gave us a box of chocolates. I will probably do something similar and maybe we will bake cupcakes together.

[choli]

No, we don't do gifts for the kids for Valentines Day. Or St Patricks Day, or any of the other Hallmark Holidays. They get candy at Easter, and presents at Christmas, and that's it. We are resisting the marketing pressure to turn every holiday into a obligatory "buy crap for your kids that they don't need" day.

[busymama77]

I always got a little something growing up.  A stuffed animal, a new pair of earrings or a necklace and some candy. I extend the same to our kids with some fun cookies or candy - this year, we'll probably make something at home - a card and maybe a small toy.  $10 total..if that.

[GardenStream]

We usually do some chocolate covered strawberries. I make them with the kids during the day and then we eat them as a treat after dinner. About half the time DH will pick up some champagne on his way home from work. That's our big V-Day celebration.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by choli 

No, we don't do gifts for the kids for Valentines Day. Or St Patricks Day, or any of the other Hallmark Holidays. They get candy at Easter, and presents at Christmas, and that's it. We are resisting the marketing pressure to turn every holiday into a obligatory "buy crap for your kids that they don't need" day.

That was exactly my sentiment when I heard that she spent "hundreds of dollars" on her kids.  I was so shocked to hear that anyone was spending money at all for Valentine's Day.  I had never heard of it being a gift giving holiday.  So glad there are other folks out there who feel the same way.