Valentine's Day isn't just for grown-ups. But, too often, the red, pink, and Be Mine gifts end up collecting dust on a shelf. The best Valentine's Day gifts for kids will tie in to the holiday's traditional themes but – excluding the favorite sweet treat to eat – still bring smiles beyond February.
Whether you're looking for a gift for a newborn, a rambunctious toddler, or a clever elementary-schooler, we've got you covered. We rounded up 26 Valentine's gift ideas that are great for all kinds of kids, from books and toys to crafts and sugary treats too.
Keep reading for 26 Valentine's Day gifts that any kid will love:
A Lego Creativity Box encourages open-ended building play. This box is full of different shades of red for a perfect Valentine's Day tie-in, yet it will still get play time well beyond February.
Squishamallows are soft and squishable, pillow-like stuffed animals. This fox's trendy pink tie dye makes it a Valentine's Day gift that will continue getting snuggles long after the cards are put away.
These cotton rainbow heart PJs are good for snoozing in all year long. Footies are available from newborn to 24 months, and big kids can opt for the rainbow heart top and bottoms.
Kinetic sand is a kid favorite in my house — but a box to keep the mess at bay is a must. This sandcastle kit includes several cool toys and everything can be stored in the same box kids play in.
This Magna-Tiles Arctic Animals set mixes the popular building tiles with animal figurines for more ways to play. It's a set that will stand alone, or add to an existing collection of Magna-Tiles.
A kids' guide to wellness
Amazon
"I Am Love: A Book of Compassion" by Susan Verde, available at Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble, from $8.72
Learn about empathy and the healing power of love this Valentine's Day with a picture-book guide to wellness. Practice the included guided meditation and heart-opening yoga poses, or just enjoy the whimsical illustrations and heartwarming message.
Each of these soft dolls comes with 10 wooden tokens that represent gratitude, hope, and friendship, as well as suggestions for when to give them out to loved ones. A portion of each Doll Kind purchase is donated to childhood education organizations.
These adorable mittens will keep their little hands toasty on cold days, plus the red heart adds a festive touch. There are sizes to fit babies, children, and even adults, so everyone can have a pair.
Little kids will love getting to wear the same shoes as the big kids. Rothy's are made out of recycled water bottles and are comfortable enough (and machine-washable) for all of their adventures. There are sneakers too if that's more their style.
Give your kid a book filled with all of the reasons you love and appreciate them. They can look back on it whenever they need a little reminder that they're awesome.
Kids love using their imaginations, which makes something as simple as a rainbow silk a great gift. Whether they use it for twirling, dancing, or playing dress-up, they'll have fun getting creative with it.
Junie B. Jones is an iconic and hilarious Kindergartner that kids love. Little ones have been reading her series for over 25 years! Any tiny bookworm will love working on their reading skills with this funny story about Junie B. Jones navigating "Valentime's Day".
A note pad doesn't seem all that exciting, unless you give them this one. Once they scratch off the black coating, a bright rainbow pattern will be revealed. They can use it to write notes or just create fun drawings.
Show your love for a young artist in your life with a personalized gift. Coloring gets a lot more fun with these giant rainbow crayons that spell out their name.
On theme for Valentine's Day, this teether — which features silicone and wood parts — can be attached to strollers and car seats so babies are distracted from the discomfort of teething.
What looks like an adorable stuffed animal at first glance can be rolled out into a full-sized, fuzzy hoodie. Kids will be so excited when they realize they can take their favorite snuggly toy with them everywhere they go.
Kids are constantly singing a song about baby sharks — we don't know why, but it seems like they're really into it. Give them this plush cube that sings four different versions of "Baby Shark" so they can listen to the viral song all the time.
Start little bakers off with a wooden slice and bake cookie set. They can use the knife to slice through the cookie "tube" and mix and match the icing toppings.
Make home decorations or little love notes with these art supplies, from gel pens to metallic paper and more. The popsicle sticks and felt hearts are perfect for handmade valentines, but the crafting can continue long after February 14.
This love-themed baseball tee is sweet and neutral enough to wear year round. Stick with red and white, or choose from a variety of color combinations.
Available sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
A colorful slime pack
Amazon
Elmer's 20 Count Mini Premade Slime Party Pack, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $13.67
For a slime super-fan, nothing says love like 20 jars of premade slime. Each slime comes with a set of mix-ins for even more gooey fun.
Surprise them with Mini Brands and let the unboxing joy begin. Plus, in this two-pack, collectors have double the chances to find a rare gold or glow-in-the-dark Mini Brand.