- Money Pinay Mom Says You Can Earn P34K Monthly Or More In This Online Job You Can Do At Home
- Preschooler How To Stop Bringing Home The Stress At Work, Says Renowned Filipino Psychologist
- Toddler Mula P190 Hanggang P390: 15 Parenting Books Na Mabibili Mo Sa Big Bad Wolf
- Toddler What Makes Dolls Some Of the Best Toys You Can Give Your Child
PHOTO BY courtesy of Karen Ayala
Valentine’s Day has always been a “holiday” I support. I love it as much as Halloween and Christmas. Needless to say, I am also a big sucker for Valentine’s gifts — flowers, chocolates, pastries, heart-shaped/designed cards, surprise gifts — name it, I love it.
There are some I know who don’t like the idea of receiving gifts during Valentine simply because they don’t know what to do with them come February 15. I get it. Flowers wilt, and there’s too much trash from the packaging. But what if it is from your hubby (or your kids)?
What to do with Valentine's Day gifts
I discovered that I could extend the sentimental value of my husband’s gifts to by letting my 5-year-old, Kali, and 2-year-old, Kamie, create, play, cut, paint, and paste with it! This way, even if the plants and flowers wilt, even if the chocolates are gone, and the items in the boxes are all used up, we can still create more love and memories with the gifts! Here are some creative and fun activities we’ve done so far:
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWFlowers and plants
We used flowers during our “Imagine Afternoon.”
Here we used them to make hair and dresses for little girls.PHOTO BY Karen Ayala
The girls' project done!PHOTO BY Karen AyalaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
We also used preserved flowers to make flower headbands for Kamie’s Mexican Fiesta party! Kali was proud to show it off to everyone!PHOTO BY courtesy of the author
Got a colorful bouquet? We also used flowers and leaves to learn about the rainbow one afternoon.PHOTO BY courtesy of the authorADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
I wanted some new art for our home, so we also decided to stamp the leaves and flowers that we got.PHOTO BY Karen AyalaChocolates
We use the Ferrero box A LOT. One day, it is a bed for all of the girls’ Shopkins toys. On another day, it is the LOL toys’ pool. I have also used it for pattern identification through lines and colors.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
Here, Kamie used it as a canvas for her freehand painting (using Bubba Doodles paint, of course!).PHOTO BY Karen AyalaBoxes
The girls have many dollhouses. They have small and even life-sized ones, but they seem to gravitate to boxes all the time! They always use used boxes of packages and chocolates to make more houses or carriages!
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
This was the box of the speakers for my office.PHOTO BY Karen Ayala
My girls call this the “field of grass” for their farm animals.PHOTO BY Karen AyalaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
This was the box of the washing machine my husband gave me for Valentine’s Day (proud tita here).PHOTO BY Karen AyalaThe best thing about these ideas? You can do them even if it’s not Valentine’s Day. Just a short walk outside the house one afternoon, and you can recreate all these art and love memories with your kids too!
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWMore from Smart Parenting
Recommended Videos
