The Valentine’s Day class party in elementary school…the valentine mailbox decorated with pink, red, and white construction paper hearts…the games…the snacks…the excitement building up during the day…those were good times.
You can bring back the childhood fun with an elementary school Valentine’s Day party. The great thing about this idea is that you do not have to do a lot to make it a success. The party can be for couples, for singles only, or it can be for a mixed crowd of single and attached friends. Providing a meeting place for people to hang out, talk with one another, and enjoy time together is most of what you need to achieve a successful party. Make some appetizers, order pizza, or ask guests to bring a dish for potluck-style entertaining. You can also ask guests to bring a favorite childhood school snack or snack offered during classroom parties. Add a few decorations, and you have the recipe for party success.
Here are some additional things you can do to put a nostalgic spin on the party to make it a Valentine’s party to remember.
Valentine Mailboxes
Ask your guests to decorate and bring a Valentine's Day mailbox (two if coming with a date or significant other) with their name on it and a valentine for each person attending the party. Ask guests to RSVP and send the guest list to everyone so they can prepare a valentine for each guest and personalize them as desired. With craft stores overflowing with supplies for the holiday, many people owning craft machines, and free digital designs online, everyone can find ways to decorate a Valentine’s Day mailbox. Your guests can use an old shoebox, a plastic container, or a leftover shipping box for their mailbox. They can also purchase a ready-made Valentine's box.
Valentines
Guests can make valentines for everyone on the list or, perhaps better yet, buy a carton of those pre-made valentines. Guests can show their personalities with premade cards displaying animals, various sports, and superheroes. Some come with fun trinkets (paint, squishy toys, candy, putty, and race cars). When guests arrive, place everyone’s mailbox on the kitchen island, a desk, or a table. Throughout the party, a few people at a time can place their valentines in everyone’s mailbox.
Valentine's Day Party Games and Prizes
You can play a few elementary school party games throughout the party, such as guessing how many heart-shaped pieces of candy are in a jar. The person who wins takes home the jar of candy. You can also ask guests what games were played during their classroom parties when they RSVP for the party. As the host/hostess, you can judge the mailboxes for creativity and decide who has the best one. Repurpose an old bowling trophy as a prize or award a gift card.
You get bonus host/hostess points for asking friends to bring their craft supplies to your home to work on their mailboxes the week before the party (ensuring that people will have them prepared in time). You can even offer to keep the mailboxes for them until the party so no one forgets to bring theirs or juggle bringing food and a mailbox.
When the party is over, people will leave with what is most important. They will have had a chance to get caught up with friends and spend quality time with people they cherish. They will also leave with a mailbox of valentines from people who care about them. Beyond that, for a brief time, they will reminisce about a simpler time when part of a holiday was a fun party at school. Happy (old school) Valentine’s Day!