Valentine’s Day gets a bad rap—It’s a Hallmark holiday, it makes singles feel like crap, etc.—but at its most pure, the day is all about telling those you adore how they light up your life. What’s not to love about that?
But as many of us know (you haters included, I’d bet), it can feel downright awful when your mailbox is empty of heart-shaped doilies and amorous puns.
At a recent playdate Peeper and I attended, we did our best to alleviate some of the pink blues for a few folks.
We helped the toddlers craft handmade Valentine’s Day cards that our friend delivered to seniors in a memory care facility. Peeper’s friends really got into the craft, too!
We did a similar play date to make Christmas cards for Meals on Wheels, and we had so much fun that it’ll have to turn into a regular holiday get-together!
We simply cut heart shapes out of painter’s tape, stuck them to cards let the kiddos at ’em. One piece of advice: Wait until the paint is fully dry before peeling off the tape; otherwise, the tape doesn’t come up clean.
Our friend later told us that the seniors loved the cards: They showed them to each other at dinner, smiling. Some of the memory care patients might not remember what year it is, but pretty much everyone likes feeling remembered.
Has there ever been a time when a valentine—or any other thoughtful gesture—surprised you and made you feel special?
This is a wonderful thing to do! You made beautiful cards and shared them to lift the spirits of seniors who are all to often forgotten. 🙂 this made me smile and brightened my day.
Isn’t that the cool thing about doing something nice—it can have a ripple effect, making someone smile in a way you’d never expect! So glad it made you smile today. 🙂
What a fabulous idea. Mind if I borrow it sometime?
Please, please do! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
That looks like so much fun for the kiddies, though the fact they have to be so naked is also hilarious. Even though Vday gets such a bad rap, I think it is a reminder to show appreciation and love to others that we may take for granted – and we can do that without necessarily buying a thing
Amen! Although I’m totally cool with people buying me chocolate.
And yes—it’s just much easier to strip down to a diaper during craft time. Moms do enough laundry as it is!
What a great idea! My kids would love it! 🙂 It looks like the play date was a hit AND it brought smiles to seniors. This warms my heart!
This is a great attitude to have. I actually remember liking Valentine’s Day as a kid. It wasn’t until I was a jaded single adult that I developed any cynicism toward it. That’s the key, craft to the eyes of a child.
Those are adorable!! So cool to start kids early on crafts! =)
How cute are those – looks like everyone had a great time painting.