Valentines Day provides a unique opportunity for lavishing on the main relationships in your life—and not just those of a romantic nature! Children yearn for the attention of their parents and taking some extra time to make ‘the day of love’ extra special for them can fill their hearts to overflowing. Need some inspiration on how to fill your little loves’ cup the Valentines Day? Peek below for some thoughtful and intentional ideas!

At Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center it is important that we create an environment that makes your child feel cherished daily. Come get a feel for our classes and atmosphere by scheduling a tour, today!

Procure a Special Gift

The not so obvious part of giving a gift to your child is that it doesn’t have to be something costly! Pick some wildflowers, create a special card, leave them an origami creation, or even purchase something small like a page of stickers or a favorite snack—doting on your child this Valentines Day doesn’t need to break the bank or be overly complicated!

One way the teachers here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center care for each student is by hanging their artwork up for all to see. This gives children a sense of accomplishment and pride in seeing their masterpieces displayed. Schedule a tour and see their creations for yourself!

Take the Time to Help

As children go through the ‘I can do it myself’ stage it can be tricky to find ways to serve in a loving fashion without taking away the little one’s autonomy. A child’s autonomy is incredibly important and is vital to develop in order for humans to flourish (source)

So, how to specifically choose to serve your preschooler without pulling the rug out from under them for the day? Warming up their clothes in the dryer before they have to slip them on would be a super fun treat—especially in areas where mornings are chilly! Or you could make a Valentines breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes or toast (grab a generic heart-shaped cookie cutter to make it easy!). On your way to preschool? Give your kiddo a piggyback ride to the car or into their classroom. There are a plethora of possibilities, and none require challenging your child’s independence and can instead help make them feel special this Valentines Day.

Loving Words

“I love you” is an easy phrase to shower your preschooler with— “I love you” before bed, when leaving the house, at school drop off…all the time! “I love you” being a common phrase does not make it any less powerful, but sometimes finding another way to say the same thing can mean the world.

There are plenty of affirmations to speak over your little one. Should your creativity want a kickstart, an article from Family Education offers 75 different words and phrases that can be shared with your child.

Another non-verbal route to shower your children in loving words is to add hearts to their door with little things you love about them on each or create a sweet note or picture and sneak it into their lunch box.

Peggy O’Mara says that “the way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” This Valentine’s Day find some special words that bolster your preschoolers inner voice and show them that you think they are the coolest kid in the classroom.

Speaking of classrooms, take a tour here at CCLC and see what we have to offer for your preschooler’s early childhood education.

Take 5, or 10, or 15, or, 30…. You get the idea

Slowing down is incredibly difficult, especially once you become a parent. Running errands and sports practice and doctor’s appointments and paying bills and going to work and school and trying to fit time in with friends and family can leave very little time to fully invest or simply BE with your preschooler; but that might be just the ticket. For Valentine’s Day, make the day special by playing the one game your preschooler has been begging to play that may or may not make your own favorite list. Take them out for a special treat and look up a list of silly questions you can ask them. Go for a walk and ask if they, in particular, would like to come. Simply set aside time that is special, just for them, even if you only have 10 or 15 minutes of undivided attention to give. Make your child feel like the center of your world and watch their face light up with the joy of such a lovely gift!

The Peaceful Parent Institute lists several benefits of taking the time out for intentional quality time with your little one and insists that it will transform the relationship between parent and child. (source)

Need a wonderful place for your little one’s early childhood education? Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center would love to fill that roll and give your child a great start to their educational career. Schedule a tour and see what our center is all about!

Extra Snuggles—or wrestling?

People respond to physical touch in different ways and your preschooler is no different. This Valentine’s Day offer some extra snuggle time, a foot massage for their little feet, or even holds hands when you are walking together just to further drive home the fact that they are cherished. The flip side of this tamer approach to showing physical affection to our little ones is, well, not tame. Some children appreciate wrestling, epic tickle matches, or even giant swing-them-around-hugs. Think on your preschooler specifically and ask yourself “what would speak to my child’s heart more?” OR would they appreciate all of the above? Carving out 15 minutes from the rush of life to be fully attentive and focused can truly make this Valentine’s Day special. Dr. Gary Chapman (the author of The 5 Love Languages) specifically recommends wrestling and sports that require jostling for children in an article from Parents.com.

Early Childhood Teachers can also offer high-fives, hugs, and allow children to sit next to them during story/circle time in order to further the feeling of being loved and accepted withing the classroom. Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center values each child individually. Come check us out today!

Wrapping up

Valentines Day can be special for the whole family and your preschooler is no exception. Take a minute before this holiday hits and plan how you might make your little love’s day extra special! A high-energy tickle fest, a sweet note or picture in their lunchbox, or a heart balloon tied to their doorknob are all excellent and intentional examples of how you might fill your child with the knowledge that they are loved–not just on this special day, but always and every day!

Families are incredibly important to us here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center. Come tour and see how we can support your family by fostering growth and a love of learning in your little one.