All the best Valentine's Day gifts for kids that aren't candy
If your kid hasn’t slyly pointed out all the Valentine’s Day candy on display, trust it'll happen soon. Resist the urge to go overboard on those boxes of chocolates (because you know they’ll be coming home from school with plenty), and instead surprise them with creative, thoughtful gifts this Valentine’s Day. With a little extra thought, you can gift them something they’ll love and appreciate, whether they’re into crafts, shiny baubles, books and even building sets.
Our picks include some of the cutest sugar-free gifts we could find — but we promise your kids won’t miss out on the sweetness this Valentine’s Day.
Best Valentine's Day toy-building and craft kits for kids
Whether they already love building with LEGO or not, this super cute hamster with its own flower makes for a fun gift. It can actually become three animals: a hamster, a hedgehog or an eagle. Display it or take it apart and try a different animal.
Magnetic tiles are always a big hit, and this fun Valentine's Day-themed set will be a sweet addition to your kids' collection. There are 14 pieces, which are great for travel or adding to their existing supply to add a little more heart to their builds.
This glue-on mosaic kit gives kids a chance to get creative when the weather is chilly. The kit includes everything they need to decorate their own photo frame, including a wooden frame that can fit either a 4-inch by x 6-inch or 5-inch by 7-inch photograph, an assortment of mosaic mother-of-pearl shells in various colors, nontoxic glue and a spreader stick.
If you have an older kid who’s into LEGO and interior design, this is an excellent gift. The kit lets them create a heart-shaped ornament decorated with artificial flowers that they can modify using the included bricks. When complete, it measures 7 inches high and 7.5 inches wide and comes with two images to trigger inspiration.
If you've got a kid who's obsessed with miniatures, you're probably no stranger to the miniverse. This Valentine's Day surprise ball has everything they need to whip up a decadent dessert, romantic decor or something totally unexpected. When it's finished, use a UV light or sunlight to cure the resin so it'll always look beautiful.
Kids love their POSCA pens, so you know they'll love these fun paint-by-number kits. It includes two whimsical coloring sheets and eight vibrant pens. You can even join in while they color!
Best Valentine's Day toy gifts for kids
Gunther the Monster is just one of the adorable Squishmallows that have arrived for Valentine's Day 2026. There's also Gordon the Shark, Kaela the Koala, Lilibet the Duck, Malcolm the Mushroom and Rashad the Dinosaur.
We love this adorable collab between Polly Pocket and the iconic conversation heart. Kids get two mini playsets, one micordoll and seven accesories! Both hearts open up to reveal a mini world for Polly and her friends, and kids can use the heart-shaped keychain clip for on-the-go fun.
This adorable elephant teether is made from all-natural-grade silicone, which is similar to the material used for pacifiers. It has a small hole in the middle for little hands and the elephant’s trunk is just the right size to stimulate even a toddler's teeth and molars.
If you have a teen or tween, chances are excellent they have a Jellycat or three. These insanely popular stuffed toys are soft, cuddly and seriously trendy. This sweet bunny is a Valentine version they are sure to love on all year.
This 50th anniversary edition Hello Kitty stuffed toy has sparkly pink hearts and a signature on one foot. She's topped off with an adorable pink bow and is ready to be hugged or proudly displayed.
Perfect for fidgety fingers, this genuine Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty can be stretched, bounced and twisted without ever drying out. The cherry-scented putty comes in a reusable container with a twist-off lid and is sure to provide hours of hilarious fun.
Kids will love this soft, floppy, posable teddy who boasts a corduroy nose and unique wavy fur pattern. The fabric he's made of is surface washable, making this teddy ideal for travel and day-to-day snuggles with his little friend.
JellyBoards give kids a unique and innovative art experience that allows them to create art without any mess. They are sensory drawing pads that consist of two layers of nontoxic gel, vacuum-sealed to keep the drawings intact. You can blend the colors with your fingers or the stylus that comes with it and the gel's squishy texture provides a finger-painting-like experience.
The biggest problem with a trusty flying disc is that they are incredibly difficult to see at night. This gadget, however, changes all of that. It has 36 LED lights built in and provides up to a thousand throws on a 30-minute charge. It features adjustable brightness levels, a timer mode and motion sensors that automatically turn the LEDs on and off to conserve battery life.
Best Valentine's Day kids books gifts
This heartwarming and humorous board book takes a playful twist on the phrase “I’ll love you till the cows come home,” extending it with whimsical scenarios involving various animals like yaks in Cadillacs and sheep sailing, all accompanied by colorful illustrations. It celebrates the immense depth of family love and is particularly suitable for young readers.
Valentine's Day is usually filled with chocolates, but there should never be a shortage of laughs to go with it. This joke book for kids includes hilarious knock-knock jokes and other illustrations that will have everyone rolling on the floor.
Not everybody is fortunate enough to celebrate Valentine's Day. This book, used by parents, educators and therapists, can help anybody cope with separation anxiety, loss and grief. It addresses themes such as love, connection and emotional resilience and is told through the touching narrative of “the invisible string.”
Best Valentine's Day kids fashion gifts
Gift a little one these adorable heart-shaped polarized sunglasses. The glasses have scratch-resistant lenses with anti-glare coating and nose pads for comfortable wear. They are available in tons of colors and designs, but bright red is perfect for Valentine's Day.
This T-shirt is the perfect way to signal that you are lovable with a geeky side. The bright red design makes a cheeky play on the hugely popular Pac-Man, but in this iteration, he isn’t chasing the ghosts, but rather hearts. The shirt is made from 100% cotton and comes in different fabric colors.
This adorable sweatshirt is the best of both worlds, especially since Valentine's Day can be a bit chilly. The long sleeves will keep the arms warm, while the candy heart design on the front is enough to project a warm smile.
Whoever is wearing these socks is sending a clear message not to be disturbed while playing video games. Whether they are in the middle of a heated sports game, racing around tight corners or going for a high score, these socks will definitely keep their feet warm.
Are you a holiday pajama kind of family? If you are, this two-piece set will fit right in. It comes in sizes 2T-12y.
Best Valentine's Day kids jewelry gifts
These sterling silver post-stud earrings are designed in the shape of hearts and you can customize them with the initials of whoever will be wearing them. They come with a see-through backing on the post, which is designed for easy use by small fingers.
If your loved one is enamored with unicorns, this gorgeous necklace is the perfect gift on Valentine's Day. It is made from gold-plated brass and inlaid with cubic zirconias along one edge of the heart and a few inside the unicorn’s mane. It comes with an 18-inch necklace and a 2-inch extension.
This handmade volanic rock and moonstone bracelet is perfect for a kid who likes jewerly that isn't flashy but looks cool. Plus, moonstone and volcanic rock are said to bring the wearer inner strength as well as courage and a sense of calm.
Kendra Scott is huge with the tween and teen crowd, so why not wow your not-so-little Valentine with a stunning pair of heart earrings you may want to borrow yourself? They're made of gold-plated brass and opal for a little sparkle and pizzazz.
Best Valentine's Day self-care gifts for kids
These colorful bath bombs are effervescent, won’t stain your tub and are designed to last long. They come with a squishy dragon toy surprise, and have fruity scents like fruit punch, citrus, banana, fruit loops, berry and grape. Made in the U.S., these bath bombs are safe for the skin and are made from skin-safe ingredients.
Everybody needs a bit of self-care every now and again, and this facial gua sha is the perfect tool. Made from rose quartz stone, it is used to massage and sculpt your face and neck. It is ergonomically cut so that you always have a firm grip, and it measures about 3 inches.
Self-care doesn't always mean bath products and massage tools. For kids, especially tween and teen girls, mental self-care can be even more essential. These cards offer prompts that touch on topics like self-love, body positivity, friendship, school confidence and personal growth. Take a few minutes out of your day and do the work with them; not only is it a chance for them to work on themselves, but it's quality time for you and your child.
Best Valentine's Day gifts for tweens and teens
Every parent of a teen or tween knows that when it comes to staying germ-free, there's no cooler option than Touchland hand sanitizer mists. The Glow Mist version includes rose water for an extra-softening boost and has a rose scent.
Give them what they really want for just about any holiday: Robux! This set of three gift cards is ideal if you've got older kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews.
Compatible with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this sturdy case features colorful oil paint brush strokes to form rows of hearts. The case is made from durable plastic with an impact-absorbing inner layer and has a raised edge around the camera lens. It is compatible with wireless chargers and can withstand a drop of about 10 feet.
Sparkly things are always a good idea for Valentine's Day and this adorable Swarovski crystal figurine is bound to be a hit. Featuring a total of 583 facets, this sweet fox will shine on display.
Give your tweens and teens the vintage thrill of printing out photos while also letting them unleash their creativity with this label and smartphone printer. It does not require ink as the color crystals are built into the photo paper. Kids can print off pictures, labels, bookmarks, ready-made photobooth strips and more.
If you're looking for an aesthetic room decor gift for your tween or teen, you can't go wrong with this atmospheric cloud lamp that provides a light show and is interactive to music, changing colors to the beat of a song.
More of the best Valentine’s Day gifts for kids
Make every day, not just Valentine's Day, a day to remember with this instant print camera for kids. It has a two-megapixel camera sensor and automatically prints off a black-and-white photo within a second. It has 15 filters and digital stickers available and you can save color photos to an SD card.
This "Hidden Pictures" puzzle book is an excellent gift for young puzzle enthusiasts. It comes with a neon pink highlighter and contains over 300 Valentine's-themed hidden objects within the puzzles. It is a great way to spend some quality time sharpening puzzle-solving skills while coloring. Each page has a list and images of what needs to be found.
Melissa & Doug toys are well-known for their excellent quality and creativity, and this scratch art box is no different. The 125 mini notes include a wooden stylus to scratch the surface and reveal vibrant colors. There are no pre-drawn objects or illustrations, so kids must use their imagination to bring them to life.
Lovepop has so many adorable pop-up cards to delight anyone on your list this Valentine's Day. Stitch is ready with a boombox and a pink and white ukulele to bring a Valentine's serenade. And if Stitch isn't your teen's thing, the brand has tons of designs to choose from.
For anybody who wants a peaceful night’s sleep, a weighted blanket is the perfect option. This blanket weighs 7 pounds and provides a comforting sense of safety for kids. For durability, the blanket features tightly stitched 5-inch by 5-inch compartments, each secured with high-density stitching to ensure the glass beads remain evenly distributed without leakage. It measures 41 inches by 60 inches and is suitable for kids between 60 and 90 pounds.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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