Where for art thou, Valentine?

Next Tuesday is February 14th. That means this weekend kicks off  Valentine’s Day celebrations. Take time this weekend to get crafty with your little ones, and wrap your shoeboxes in red paper and start putting together those special Be Mine notes for your child’s classmates.  You might double check the school schedules, just to be safe. Some schools in Blue Valley, for instance, are hosting Valentines parties on Monday instead of Tuesday, due to early dismissal/teacher inservice schedules.

But there’s more to it than candy and hearts. There’s always a lot of fun activities around Kansas City with the kids. In fact, the fun starts on Thursday the 9th, when you can visit Story Time at Reading Reptile (Brookside, KCMO) – 11am – ages 3 to 7 – $3 includes craft and cupcake (reservations requested). This week’s theme of course: Valentine fun!

On Friday February 10th, Check out the Father-Daughter Valentine’s Dance at Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park – 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration required.) Or maybe the the Mother/Son – Father/Daughter Valentine’s Dance at Brush Creek Community Center (KCMO) is more your style. It runs 6pm to 8pm.

Not wanting to dress up? Also on Friday, check out Notable You! at Whole Foods Market, Metcalf 7401 W. 91st Street Overland Park, KS. 1-3pm – Decorate clipboards and attach thoughtful notes or Valentines. FREE, includes a snack, and designed for children ages 3-12 years old. Kids may join the fun in the café anytime during the events, unless otherwise noted.

On Saturday, dress way down and check out Naturally from the Heart – Burr Oak Woods Nature Center (Blue Springs, MO) – 10am to 11am where you can create special Valentines from all natural materials.
Family Fun Day at Johnson County Museum (Shawnee, KS) – 10am – Drop in and make handmade Valentines!

And finally, in case you’re too busy to hit a specific window of heart-shaped fun, there’s always  Valentine’s Day Fun at Paradise Park (Lee’s Summit). The Children’s Edutainment Center will feature a full week of Valentine’s themed fun. You can bake Valentine heart cookies in the interactive kitchen and create Valentine cards and fun flowers in the art studio. Share the fun with someone you love. It runs from Saturday, February 11th thru the 14th.

Looking for more? Check out our Events Calendar!

* image via  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hint-of-plum/ licensed with Creative Commons