Daycare Valentine's Party (1 year olds...)

[cabanafrau]

Well, I guess I'm in the group that thinks valentines to be exchanged between 15 month olds is ridiculous. Sounds like a chore for the parents. Ugh...guess I'm a fuddy duddy.

I think I'm in your camp on this, I feel like this is crazy. Cards? They can't read! This is all extra work for the parents, and what parent needs extra work

Maybe I feel this way because I am so close to vacation.....19 days till Disney!

I suggest to the head of the daycare that holiday parties for one year olds are inappopriate at that age. And asking parents to supply any of it should not be requested either.

Having the children make a craft for their parents is more acceptable. But, even the 1 year olds may be too young for that, as the caregiver will have to most if not all the work.

My vote is this is nuts! No wonder parents get it into their heads that simply taking kids on a vacation to WDW isn't special enough without coming up with ways to plus it to guarantee it's the proper level of special.

 

[Mkrop]

If I was going to do this, although I think it is silly. I would buy some valentines and staple a bag of goldfish or something similar to each and call it a day

 

[disykat]

I find it amusing that most of the people here agree it is ridiculous, but suggest getting all this special stuff for the valentines. Really, what is making it ridiculous? The cards? Or is it all the extras that parents think they should include?

Buy a box of cards (I just bought a box for $1.67 last night.) Design mom had it right - they can look at the characters.

The rest of the daycare is probably celebrating so the toddler room is too. Keep it simple. Cards only!

 

[brockash]

So the daycare my daughter attends has routine "parties"... Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. They usually ask you to sign up to bring a snack item. Great, no problem. Last Friday a list was given out with the names of all the kids in your childs class. My daughter is 15 months old and in a room with kids 12 - 18 months old. I don't know why but I thought I had a few more years until I would need to be doing "valentines" for my child. They are 1 years old! They have no idea its even a holiday. What type of things do you give out for a 1 year old, I'm stumped! There are 12 kids in her class so something like a book crossed my mind but thats going to get pricey. Her classroom is peanut free and most parents are anti candy.

Suggestions? Is this even normal for the age?

Yeah, I think it's ridiculous too. They're 1...my dd's (18 months) daycare is having a party, but they did not ask for valentines and I'd be annoyed if they did. They'll have plenty of time for that once they're in school - when they'll actually care, know what's going on and have fun with it.

 

[gotomu212]

I'll be the person to say I kinda get it. I remember my sons valentines party when he was 14 months. They had a stack of cards (I think I paid $2 for a box). We spent 5 minutes writing his name on 12 cards and then during the party they walked to each box to drop one in and the little ones thought it was fun to drop cards in boxes (it was one big game). Then they got a box and ripped open the cards (tearing paper FUN), had a cookie, and called it a day.

The rest of the center was having a party so it would have seemed weird for one room to just sit there. But I'll agree this shouldn't be a big deal or a big money suck. They won't appreciate anything that you can find on Pinterest at this age.

 

[JennyKS]

This is my childs second valentine party and he is 2. Don't put much thought in it if you don't want to. Don't participate if you don't want to. Did he know what he was doing last year, no. But all the rooms in the daycare have the parties. They even got to go on a field trip this past summer. I was told by the director they didn't want to exclude the babies. I'm glad they don't exclude them. Last year we did mickey mouse cards and gold fish crackers. This year HE picked out frozen cards, silly valentine glasses and gold fish crackers. There's only 12 in his class. I didn't spend much money and he is EXCITED to take his tractor valentine box in. I'm thankful they do fun things for them.

 

[luvsJack]

We always had parties in every age group. The one year olds usually had mini cupcakes and cheese puffs that parents sent in. All candy was sent home in their bag except one or two pieces that they had with their cupcake and puffs.

Whether we asked for Valentines for this age group or not, parents usually sent them so we just started letting them know how many and to not put the receiver's name on the cards.

The kids enjoyed putting a card in each bag (one to one correspondence) and tearing open the little envelopes (tearing paper is good for eye hand coordination).

A card for each child and an age appropriate treat for the group. Easy peasy. Don't make it complicated.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My son is almost a year. He would eat the Valentine.

So I would find the most baby friendly one with no choking hazards.

No matter what you give, my son would put it in his mouth. I don't mind the idea. But that is a tricky age range for this.

 

[mummabear]

Maybe Bubbles "I'm bubbling with Joy you are my friend" I think the party is cute and brining a plate is fine but I think it is crossing the line to make gifts/cards mandatory, especially at this age.

 

[cabanafrau]

Sorry, I'm not falling down the rabbit hole of finding it so sad "one room is left out of the celebrating". Decorations, songs, activities can still go on and bring the appropriate level of stimulation and enjoyment to the young ones. If anyone is capable of appreciating the simple things in life to their fullest, it's definitely tiny tots.

 

[pumpkinmomma]

If I was going to do this, although I think it is silly. I would buy some valentines and staple a bag of goldfish or something similar to each and call it a day

I think they even have valentine themed goldfish packs so I would skip the cards and just get the crackers.

 

[mefordis]

So the daycare my daughter attends has routine "parties"... Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. They usually ask you to sign up to bring a snack item. Great, no problem. Last Friday a list was given out with the names of all the kids in your childs class. My daughter is 15 months old and in a room with kids 12 - 18 months old. I don't know why but I thought I had a few more years until I would need to be doing "valentines" for my child. They are 1 years old! They have no idea its even a holiday. What type of things do you give out for a 1 year old, I'm stumped! There are 12 kids in her class so something like a book crossed my mind but thats going to get pricey. Her classroom is peanut free and most parents are anti candy.

Suggestions? Is this even normal for the age?

Gah! I'd be a bit put off by this. The daycare is a service you are paying for now you have to do all this work. Also not age appropriate. They should have thought about a way to celebrate within the confines of the daycare that didn't create any work for the parents.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I think it is a good thing that your daycare wants to celebrate holidays. At least the workers care enough to change up the activities. Yes. It's a little extra work. But as a working mom, it was things like this that made me happy to feel a connection to my kids and what they were doing during the day.

The idea with the "main squeeze" is adorable!

 

[Chocolate Cake]

Gah! I'd be a bit put off by this. The daycare is a service you are paying for now you have to do all this work. Also not age appropriate. They should have thought about a way to celebrate within the confines of the daycare that didn't create any work for the parents.

Yes, of course you are paying someone to take care of your kids all day, but that does not excuse you from being a part of the special occasions your child celebrates. My goodness. I couldn't imagine letting all of this stuff up to "the person I was paying". I loved being a part of my kids' daycare activities. Otherwise, you truly are just dumping them all day and not giving a hoot what the heck they do because you "paid for it". I just couldn't be that disconnected from my kids'.

I used to love dressing them up in red and having them toddle in with the hearts for their teachers and little scribbles on hearts for their friends. I loved the "special" days at daycare. It was a reason to shake the same old routine up a bit! There aren't that many holidays in a year. I think it is ok to do some "work" and celebrate the handful of holidays the year holds.

 

[mommysaurus]

Gah! I'd be a bit put off by this. The daycare is a service you are paying for now you have to do all this work. Also not age appropriate. They should have thought about a way to celebrate within the confines of the daycare that didn't create any work for the parents.

It's really not THAT much work. It's only 12 kids and the babies will have fun even if they don't quite understand.

My son is in 2nd grade and goes to daycare after school. I have to provide 24 valentines for school plus juice boxes and 45 for daycare plus I had to sign up for a snack (goldfish). Now that's annoying.

 

[mefordis]

I don't send my kids to daycare so I'm not really sure how I would feel if I were in the situation, however, I can imagine I'd rather them take care of the activities while I am dealing with working an 8 hour day + commute.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I don't send my kids to daycare so I'm not really sure how I would feel if I were in the situation, however, I can imagine I'd rather them take care of the activities while I am dealing with working an 8 hour day + commute.

That is very easy to think and I totally understand where you are coming from. But, as someone who did leave her 1 year old for that 8+ hours a day, it was these little things that made me feel like I was being a good mom, even though I wasn't with them at a Mommy and Me Group or a playdate holiday party.

I was dealing with work, but I was still a mom of very young kids that I left in the care of others for that 8+ hours a day. Buying some Valentine treats was the least I could do and it made me feel good.

 

[JennyKS]

I'll say it again, I love that my daycare does these parties. I've been able to take off work and join in a couple of the parties, they all love it. They don't ask for any parent help. They don't demand that any parent or child participates. I was really surprised seeing the kids put valentines in everyones box. It just changes up their day a bit. But my daycare also does PJ day, bring your favorite stuffed animal, favorite sport team day, just all kinds of things to make it more fun. Just makes it more fun for the kids.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I'll say it again, I love that my daycare does these parties. I've been able to take off work and join in a couple of the parties, they all love it. They don't ask for any parent help. They don't demand that any parent or child participates. I was really surprised seeing the kids put valentines in everyones box. It just changes up their day a bit. But my daycare also does PJ day, bring your favorite stuffed animal, favorite sport team day, just all kinds of things to make it more fun. Just makes it more fun for the kids.

That is awesome! It makes you feel good that your child is in a caring place and surrounded by people who make an effort to make your child's day fun and exciting.

 

[Skippy918]

Our daycare has Valentine's parties, but I never did the individual cards until my kids were old enough to want to do it themselves. I'm not crafty at all. In elementary, we got the paper that has the list of kids to make Valentine's for. My son just wanted to cut out paper hearts so that's what he did.