"Valentine’s Day is a day of celebration for more than just our relationships. Kids are just as excited to share Valentine’s Day with their friends and, more specifically, their classmates. Of course, you remember the excitement of bringing selections of Hershey’s kisses, heart-shaped suckers, and chocolate bars wrapped in pink and red home from school on Feb. 14. The nostalgia may have you reaching for the closest variety pack of Valentine’s Day-themed candy, but with some classrooms having rules around what can or cannot be brought in and the importance of being mindful of kids’ food allergies, it may be time for a change. That doesn’t mean the classroom fun has to come to an end, though! Some amazing Valentines substitutes may even be better than your traditional favorites. Don’t worry about scavenging through the best options; we got you covered with 25 of the best non-candy Valentines for your child and their classmates.
The Cutest Non-Candy Valentines for Kids
Everyone’s lips need an extra dose of moisture by the time Valentine’s Day comes around, and these lip balm valentines provide a perfect solution! Simply pair these cheeky Etsy printables with any lip balm of your choice for cute and unique valentines.
Who doesn’t love a clever Valentine’s Day pun? These little skateboards come packaged with a monster-themed card.
Slime, but give it a V-Day theme! We know slime is great for sensory play and kids love it.
Your child can put creativity into the hands of all their friends right along with their own with these sweet little paint kits affixed with fun paintable cards.
These fun, food-themed stickers will make your little one the star of their classroom’s V-Day celebration.
Grab packs of your kiddo’s favorite popcorn and decorate them with these nifty “Have a Poppin’ Valentine’s Day” stickers! As a good source of whole grains and fiber, popcorn is definitely a more nourishing treat than candy.
Give little hands one more engaging activity to do when they’re getting fidgety with these playful heart-shaped maze valentines.
Jazz up erasing those mistakes—or rather, learning moments—this Valentine’s Day with these one-of-a-kind gamer erasers.
Bracelets have been an exchange of friendship since we were kids. Jump on the pop-it craze with this bracelet valentine option.
It doesn’t get more far out than these Star Wars-themed valentines! They even come with glow sticks, so the only thing left to do is sign and assemble them.
It’s mushy, colorful, and true therapy for even the most restless children. Play-Doh, having been iconic for generations, is a fun option for V-Day.
Share your kiddo’s love of animals with their class with these easy-to-assemble “Wild” Valentines.
How charming and creative are these scrunchie, ballet-themed valentines? Not only are they adorable, but the hair tie is a useful favor, too!
These super unique Valentine’s goodies are something every kid will absolutely love. Choose from multiple crayon colors—plus, each one already comes wrapped in a clear plastic bag!
What little kid doesn’t love stickers—especially cute superhero ones that also happen to come with an awesome mask?!
Transform everyday Goldfish crackers at snack time into a memorable Valentine’s Day handout with these precious goldfish-inspired valentines.
Fun and funny, these heart-shaped soft balls are sure to be a hit in your kid’s class.
These cute shark-themed valentines come with 3D stickers that make for awesome sensory play.
Slap-on bracelets + superheroes = an amazing time! Your favorite superheroes are back and better than ever this V-Day.
There’s nothing like a cheesy pun, an adorable design, and a fun toy to make a stellar V-Day card.
Kids will be obsessed with the fact that they have a new funky and bright bracelet to wear, all thanks to a special valentine!
A cute card that also comes with a squishy and adorable fidget toy—what’s better than that?
This valentine is a perfect gift for all of the little LEGO-lovers out there who want to share the building block love with all of their classmates.
It’s always exciting to have the most decked out pencils rather than a plain old No. 2. With these valentine printables, no kid will be stuck having to borrow a boring pencil next time. And don’t worry, you won’t have to look far to find festive valentine pencils to include.
Take a kiddo’s delight at paper airplanes to the next level with these foam gliders and the silly airborne Valentine’s Day messages that go with them.
