ALT-2 Kids Activities for Valentines Day
Handing out Valentines to 'all the kids in the class' has been a tradition ever since even when I was a little girl. Having seen them all through the years, between my grandchildren and my own kids, I now have the wonderful opportunity of creating gifts with my great grandchildren. And there is nothing worse than not having a clue as to how to entertain children, luckily for me, I have a few ideas floating around in my head.
~Make some fudge. Since chocolate is so popular during this particular holiday, try something a bit different. Not everybody can make fudge, so imagine how excited the kids will be when telling whomever is partaking of the treat that they helped make it! A good, no bake recipe (fudge can be tricky) is 12 ounces (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips, 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Line a baking dish (8x8 works well) with aluminum foil, or wax paper. Melt chocolate and butter with milk 1 minute in the microwave. Stir to combine the ingredients. If it is still not melted, repeat in 30 second intervals. Spread it evenly in prepared pan. Cool it either in the refrigerator, or let it set out and form. Let the kids do all of the work, and cover it with red , white and pink sprinkles, candy or hearts. You can all enjoy a delicious treat!
~Make Valentines for their parents and friends. Pick up a package of card stock, in an array of colors, some glitter, glue, markers (or crayons) and some safety scissors (they sell packages of scissors that cut a variety of shapes, and they are pretty safe, but kids may still need supervision). you may have at home some craft items, like lace, older cards that can be cut up to make new ones. Allow the kids free reign in making whatever they want for whoever they want. Parents love to receive gifts that are made from their children's imaginations. why not take part in such a memory by providing the crafts?
~Fondue! what could be more fun that dipping fruits and sponge cake into oozing, chocolaty goodness? If you have a fondue pot, then you are all set! If not, never fear, all you need is a small ceramic melting pot and a small candle (though where children are involved, you may want to get an actual fondue pot). Ingredients; 1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream ,10 oz (280 g). semisweet chocolate, chopped 2 oz (56 g). white chocolate. Pour the whipping cream into a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Simmer the cream, then remove it from the heat. Add chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Put the mixture in a small ceramic fondue pot. Sprinkle the chopped white chocolate over the dark chocolate mixture, let stand for a minute or two to allow it to melt, before running a spoon through it a few times, to marble it. Things to dip into the deliciousness: strawberries, bananas, orange segments, pound or sponge cake, or cookies. Not only will the kids joy in dipping their snacks in the mixture, it will be a nice treat for you as well.
~Jewelry boxes. Craft stores carry a vast array of items, including small cardboard boxes that are perfect for decorating. Just use some of last years cards, and colored paper, and allow the kids to make their own creations! Glue their artwork onto the boxes and voila! You have got yourself specialized boxes built perfectly for small keepsakes and jewelry.
Brownies are a great idea for kids, as well as cupcakes that the kids will help decorate with sprinkles and candies. Of course, if you have a recipe for making candy, complete with molds that may be the best idea of all! Picking up a few kits that will enable you to take molds of the kids hands (or feet) is a fun idea too, and will allow you something to keep year after year while you watch those little hands get bigger.
