Valentine’s Day is often synonymous with candy (lots and lots of it), but there are only so many sweets a parent can handle. If you want to share the love with the kiddos this holiday without all the sugar, you’ve come to the right place. From family Valentine’s Day pajamas to a Love-a-Lot Care Bear, we’ve rounded up plenty of non-candy Valentine’s ideas for kids.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.



Little Sleepies Family PJ's

$32 & up BUY NOW

Settle in for a snuggle fest with Little Sleepies adorable new Valentine's Day prints that come in sizes from baby through adult. They come in gray, pink and blue and even offer accessories like headbands and swaddle blankets.


Love Lust Pouch

$32 BUY NOW

Great for pens, pencils or your tween's growing makeup collection, this double-sided bag brings style and function.

 


i heart art crayons

$15 BUY NOW

These heart-shaped crayons can be twisted into an oval shape, and it's really two crayons in one! They're also erasable, which will save your walls and your sanity.


Funboy's Clear Pink Heart Ball Pit

$99 BUY NOW

Dive into fun with this sweet ball pit. It inflates and deflates in under two minutes and can fit multiple kiddos. Balls are sold separately.


CreateOn's LOVE from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

$45 BUY NOW

This adorable storytelling set is compatible with all Magna-Tile sets.


Posh Peanut Queen Of Hearts Duvet Cover Set

$154 BUY NOW

Embrace Valentine's Day all year long with Posh Peanut's luxurious bedding collection. This duvet brings a reversible pattern and comes with a coordinating pillow case.


Care Bears: Love-A-Lot Bear

$10 BUY NOW

This special Valentine's Day Care Bear is all about sharing the love. The classic 14-inch plush is huggable beyond belief and comes with twin hearts on its belly.


Loulou Lollipop Bubble Silicone and Wood Teether

$25 BUY NOW

Made from beech wood conditioned with organic olive oil and beeswax, your teething tot will love to give this teether a chew. There's an additional ring of silicone beads that offers a softer experience. Plus, it doubles as a rattle!


Chance Basketballs

$29 BUY NOW

This Los Angeles-based company is all about updating the sporting goods industry through bold and vibrant products. Their colorful products focus on spreading positivity in sports and bringing communities together.


Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse!

$6 BUY NOW

This sweet addition to the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book series, the story follows Mouse as he creates valentine's for his buddies, sharing what he loves about each of them.


Piggy Paint Kisses & Wishes Set

$15 BUY NOW

We love that all the nail polish is a non-toxic, water-based formula that’s free from chemicals like formaldehyde and phthalates.


Chasing Love T-Shirt

$13 BUY NOW

This fun love-themed Pac-Man shirt comes in five different colors and sizes ranging from youth small to adult extra-large.


Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty in Red

$15 BUY NOW

Everyone loves a little putty to pull! Gift this popular brand in Valentine’s Day-themed color.


Yogibo Bean Bag

$219 BUY NOW

Bean bags have never gone out of style, and Yogibo is the leader in comfy seating. Each style has zero pressure points for ultimate relaxation, and the cover is removable, washable and interchangeable.


Plus-Plus Puzzle by Number

$15 BUY NOW

Everyone’s favorite little building pieces are now a puzzle! Use the 250 pieces to create two different hearts and then put them on display.


Customized Reel Viewer

$15 & up BUY NOW

Give your kids a little bit of your childhood with a customized reel viewer. Simply pick the pictures you want to add to your own reel and let them click away.


Schleich's Rainbow Love Unicorn

$20 BUY NOW

This whimsical creature will bring hours of magical play time to your little ones.

 


Baby Jack & Co's Learning Lovey

$26 BUY NOW

This lovey is the only sensory tag blanket with sewn shut ribbon tags for added safety! Each one is made with durable, micro-polyester fabric and paired with a fleece textured backing that helps reduce anxiety and helps kids fall asleep peacefully.

––Gabby Cullen with Karly Wood

RELATED STORIES

8 Gorgeous Handmade Valentine’s Day Gifts We Found on Etsy

Costco’s Amazing Valentine’s Day Rose Sale Is Back

25 Hilariously Sweet Valentine’s Jokes for Kids

Calling all Beatle fans! Whether you’re an OG fan or starting out as a baby Beatle lover, this special collection from Magna-Tile is a must for your collection.

The Beatles Collection Magna-Tiles Structure Set comes with everything you need to create a Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, Magical Mystery Tour Bus, a record player, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Kaleidoscope, The Beatles Album Collage, two different bass drums and display the Beatles Song Titles!

The set is an official Magna-Tile product and is compatible with all other sets. Each piece is made with SuperColor® Technology on both sides that equals bright colors and a scratch-resistant coating.

The Beatles Collection Magna-Tiles Structure Set comes with 28 small squares, 10 small rectangles, six quarter rounds, six small triangles, one hexagon and two chassis. You can pre-order the set for $134.99 on CreateOn or Amazon.

––Karly Wood

 

RELATED STORIES

Let’s Taco ’Bout This Awesome Play Set

Hey You Guys! You Need this Nostalgic Goonies Game for Summer Game Nights

Build Away & Water Play with New Sesame Street Toys

 

Disney is celebrating the year of the mouse—Mickey Mouse, that is! Each month the Disney shop on Amazon will unveil new products perfect for fans of the epic mouse himself and this month is no exception.

Even though Disney hasn’t revealed the full year in mouse merch, you can expect a year full of mouse magic. Keep scrolling to see a few picks from each month for the year so far!

January

Disney Year of the Mouse Golden Mickey T-Shirt

$23

Disney Year of the Mouse Golden Mickey January PopSockets Grip and Stand

$17

Disney Year of The Mouse Golden Mickey January Tank Top

$21

February

Disney Year of the Mouse Band Concert Mickey February Raglan Baseball Tee

Choose from black, white, gray, navy, red and royal blue color combos.

$27.50

Disney Year of the Mouse Band Concert Mickey February Sweatshirt

$34.99

Womens Disney Year of the Mouse Band Concert Mickey February V-Neck T-Shirt

$23.50

 

March

Disney Year of the Mouse Engineer Mickey March Sweatshirt

Available in black, gray, navy, blue and charcoal.

$34.99

Disney Year of the Mouse Engineer Mickey March Tank Top

Pick from black, purple, navy, blue, white, gray and charcoal.

$21

Disney Year of the Mouse Engineer Mickey March Premium T-Shirt

Colors available in gray, white, black, navy, baby blue and in youth, men's and women's sizes.

$23.50

April

 

Disney Year of the Mouse: Floral Mickey Mouse

April's collectable Mickey Mouse is made of soft velveteen fabric and pays homage to Disneyland's Welcome Gardens. The 16-inch plush features embroidered eyes, commemorative gold and satin foot patch and a certificate of authenticity. 

May

Disney Year of the Mouse: Movie Star Mickey

Mickey is taking a trip through his epic career with the limited edition Movie Star-themed plush. Like months past, he will feature deluxe mixed materials, embroidery detail, commemorative gold and satin foot patch and a Certificate of Authenticity.

June

Year of the Mouse: Rainbow Mickey Mouse Plush

June is Pride month and Mickey is getting in on the action! The limited-edition plush is covered in knitted, holographic rainbow fabric and a gold seal of authenticity. He comes in a window box and stands 16 inches tall.

D23 members will get first access to the limited edition Mickey on Mon., Jun. 9 a.m. PST by visiting the D23 website. Be sure you are logged in as a D23 member so you can see the access link.

August

Year of the Mouse: Captain Mickey

August has already set sail and so has Captain Mickey. The nautical-themed plush has as thinking of Steamboat Willie with his striped swimsuit, complete with gold buttons. 

D23 members will get first access to the limited edition Mickey on Mon., Aug 10 a.m. PST by visiting the D23 website. Be sure you are logged in as a D23 member so you can see the access link.

October

Year of the Mouse: Mousketeer Plush

The Mickey Mouse Club premiered in October of 1955 and this month's plush is a celebration of the fave show. Mickey's Mousketeer outfit is made of cotton jersey with embroidered buttons, and he stands 16 inches tall.

D23 members will get first access to the limited edition Mickey on Mon., Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. PST by visiting the D23 website. Be sure you are logged in as a D23 member so you can see the access link.

November

Year of the Mouse: Fantasia Plush

1940's Fantasia is a Disney fave and this month's plush is an homage to the classical-themed film. Mickey is covered in constellations, red satin shorts and gold gloves.

D23 members will get first access to the limited edition Mickey on Mon. Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. PST by visiting the D23 website. Be sure you are logged in as a D23 member so you can see the access link.

December

December's plush is all about the holidays! Holiday Spirit Mickey Mouse is the final plush in the Year of the Mouse collection. He's made with flannel fabric with corduroy and Sherpa fabrics.

D23 members will get first access to the limited edition Mickey on Mon. Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. PST by visiting the D23 website. Be sure you are logged in as a D23 member so you can see the access link.

 

Limited Edition

Limited Edition Disney Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse Plush

Are you having a difficult time getting your hands on the Year of the Mouse merch? You could be in luck when it comes to the Special Edition Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse Plush that celebrates “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.” The colorful plush is available on Amazon, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and in a window box with special packaging.

Available only on Amazon, $29.99

Limited Edition Disney Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse Plush

The second limited edition plush is the Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse Plush that celebrates the Disney Parks’ tradition of fireworks. The adorable plush is made of thick polyester fabric with a fireworks print that comes with metallic detailing, embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes.

Find it on Amazon, $29.99

 

—Erica Loop & Karly Wood

Photos: Amazon

 

RELATED STORIES

Ryan’s World Is Coming to Roblox & Here’s How to Play

Spark Some Christmas Cheer with a Virtual Elf Pets Merry Movie Night

This Harry Potter Holiday Wrapping Paper Is Almost Too Magical to Rip Open

Temper tantrums. There’s no telling when or where they will strike. Just thinking about them makes a parent break out in a cold sweat. But what if there was a way to stop meltdowns before they start? It’s possible, trust us. We looked high and low for tools and tricks to keep tantrums at bay, and below are our favorite mom-tested-and-approved methods. Take a peek and try one (or a few) out the next time your kid starts to go blue in the face.

1. Check out The TantrumBox. After experiencing their own kids’ tantrums, Allison Steinberger (a teacher and mom of two) and her physician husband researched and came up with the TantrumBox, which is a list of 100 fun ways to prevent a tantrum in addition to sensory products, which are great at distraction. Items in the box include a tangle toy, a telescope kaleidoscope, play-doh, among others.

2. Hug it out. After studying more than 100 tantrums, researchers at the University of Minnesota concluded that tantrums often involve anger and sadness. And since anger tends to fizzle out quicker than sadness, the way past a tantrum is to tend to the sadness, which leaves us with hugs! That’s right–enveloping your wailing child in a warm, well-timed hug may help ebb the tide of a tantrum.

photo: iStock

3. Take a deep breath and stay calm. A surefire way to escalate your kid’s tantrum is to flip out and start losing your cool. Taking a deep breath before entering the fray may help steady your nerves and keep everything in perspective. Remind yourself that ALL kids have tantrums, and this too will end.

4. Try a distraction like acting silly. They say laughter is the best medicine, but it’s also great at distracting your child during a temper tantrum. Making a silly face or a funny noise might just turn your child’s head away from what they’re tantrum-ing about and make them laugh. It’s worth a shot.

photo: iStock

5. Create a calming center. Sometimes temper tantrums are born out of anxiety and frustration. A great way to counteract that, especially when you’re at home, is to create a calming center in a quiet room or corner of your house. You can search on Amazon for items—including the Calm Down Jar, which is a tube filled with a glittery gel and water that your child can swish back and forth. There are also fidget toys, fidget spinners, homeopathic calming tablets, calming essential oil, and more.

6. Just walk away. Not every parent will be comfortable with this method, but sometimes just walking away and letting the tantrum fizzle out works great. Obviously, this way works best if you’re at home or in a contained spot (not out at a restaurant, the mall, the movie theater, etc), but if you can just leave the room, your child may lose interest in their tantrum and calm down on their own.

photo: Chi Yoga

7. Yoga breathing. A big trend now in nursery schools is tiny yoga, and part of this practice is teaching children to deep breathe and be cognizant of their breathing. Practice this when she’s not having a tantrum so she understands the practice and enjoys the calming effect. Once she’s mid-tantrum, just calmly ask her to take a few deep breaths and hopefully, this will work to calm her down.

8. Validating and empathizing with your kid. Guess what? Your kid has a temper tantrum when he’s upset or sad or unsettled or for a million other reasons, but the main reason is that he’s not happy about something. Why not try showing him you understand and that you get that he’s upset? Validating why your tot is upset may open the door to communication instead of screaming, wailing, etc.

9. Try picking up a book. There are tons of books out there about warding off temper tantrums but the one we’re excited about is No More Tantrums.  In author Maria van Lieshout’s newest addition to the Big Kid Power series, she tackles tantrums and different ways both parents and kids can fight through them. Advice for kids includes ideas such as “Big kids use their words” and “When I’m upset I take a little break.” The illustrations are adorable and are great for demonstrating to children the different ways to calm down.

10. Preparing them and setting out expectations. If you’re going to a restaurant, let your kids know beforehand that there won’t be ice cream for dinner. If you’re heading to the movies, let your kids know what they can and cannot get from the concession stand. Why? Because giving kids parameters and guidelines often help them feel more in control. We’re not saying this will eliminate tantrums on the road, but it will help lessen them since your children will know beforehand what’s allowed.

—Felissa Allard

 

RELATED STORIES

Here’s Why Handling Your Child’s Tantrums Makes You Better at Business

Good-Bye Bath Time Tantrums: 8 Ways to Make Tub Time Fun

3 Strategies I Use to Avoid Meltdowns during the Witching Hour

SaveSave

SaveSave