Planning a Valentine’s Day classroom party and need games that’ll have the kids begging to play again? You’re in the right spot. These 12 game ideas are classroom-tested, teacher-approved, and guaranteed to turn your party into the event everyone talks about until spring break. From preschoolers to sixth graders, we’ve got every age covered with games that are easy to set up and impossible not to love.
1. Valentine Ring Toss
This classic carnival game gets a heart-themed makeover, and it’s absolutely perfect for little hands learning hand-eye coordination (while having a blast, of course).
Best for: Preschool through 1st grade, 5-15 kids per game station
Time to Play: 10-15 minutes
Players: 2-15 (make multiple stations for larger classes!)
What You’ll Need:
Paper towel rolls or cardboard tubes
Heavy paper plates (one for base, 3-6 for rings)
Scissors
Stickers, markers, or construction paper for decorating
Masking tape (for the throwing line)
How to Play:
1. Set up your ring toss base: Cut a circle in the center of a heavy paper plate that’s just big enough to fit your cardboard tube through. Insert the tube so it stands upright – this is your target post.
12 Coolest Valentine’s Day School Party Games That Kids Actually Want to Play
Planning a Valentine’s Day classroom party and need games that’ll have the kids begging to play again? You’re in the right spot. These 12 game ideas are classroom-tested, teacher-approved, and guaranteed to turn your party into the event everyone talks about until spring break. From preschoolers to sixth graders, we’ve got every age covered with games that are easy to set up and impossible not to love.
1. Valentine Ring Toss
This classic carnival game gets a heart-themed makeover, and it’s absolutely perfect for little hands learning hand-eye coordination (while having a blast, of course).
Best for: Preschool through 1st grade, 5-15 kids per game station
Time to Play: 10-15 minutes
Players: 2-15 (make multiple stations for larger classes!)
What You’ll Need:
Paper towel rolls or cardboard tubes
Heavy paper plates (one for base, 3-6 for rings)
Scissors
Stickers, markers, or construction paper for decorating
Masking tape (for the throwing line)
How to Play:
1. Set up your ring toss base: Cut a circle in the center of a heavy paper plate that’s just big enough to fit your cardboard tube through. Insert the tube so it stands upright – this is your target post.
2. Decorate everything with Valentine’s Day stickers, hearts, and pink or red markers. Let the kids help with this part if you have time – it doubles as a craft activity!
3. Create your throwing rings by cutting the centers out of 3-6 paper plates, leaving just the outer rim. Deck these out in Valentine’s colors too.
4. Mark your throwing line with masking tape on the floor, about 3-4 feet away from the target (adjust based on age and skill level)
5. Let the games begin! Have kids line up and take turns tossing their rings, trying to land them around the post. Count up the successful tosses after each round.
Pro Tip: Make 2-3 game stations if you have a bigger class. This keeps wait times short and energy levels high. You can even turn it into a mini tournament where kids compete for the most “ringers” across all rounds!
2. Don’t Break My Heart!
Get ready for some seriously focused faces – this delicate relay game has kids passing a tissue paper heart using only clothespins, and it’s way harder (and funnier) than it sounds.
Best for: K-1st grade, great for teaching teamwork
Time to Play: 10-15 minutes
Players: 6-20 kids
What You’ll Need:
Clothespins (one per child)
Tissue paper hearts (make a few extras in case of tears – literally!)
How to Play:
1. Divide your class into two teams and have them stand in lines or circles.
2. Give each child a clothespin to hold.
3. Hand the first child in each line a tissue paper heart. Their mission? Pass it to the next person using only their clothespin to grip it – no hands allowed!
4. Keep the heart moving down the line without tearing or dropping it. If it rips or falls, that team starts over from the beginning.
5. The first team to successfully pass the heart all the way through their line without destroying it wins!
Fun Variation: Kick it up a notch by calling out silly commands like “Pass to the left!” “Pass to the person behind you!” or “Pass across the circle!” Kids will scramble to follow directions while protecting that fragile heart.
3. Newspaper Sumo
This game is pure chaos in the best way possible. Two kids stand back-to-back on a sheet of newspaper and use only their backsides to push each other off – no hands, no turning around. Trust us, the giggles are unstoppable.
Best for: K-1st grade (or anyone who needs to burn some energy!)
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Players: 2 at a time (tournament style for whole class)
What You’ll Need:
Sheets of newspaper (one per match)
A list of simple trivia questions
How to Play:
1. Lay a sheet of newspaper flat on the floor and have two players stand on opposite ends, backs facing each other.
2. Ask a trivia question like “What color is a stop sign?” or “How many legs does a spider have?”
3. The first player to answer correctly takes half a step backward, bringing their heels closer to their opponent’s.
4. Continue asking questions and moving players backward until their heels are touching.
5. When you yell “GO!” players use only their rear ends to try to push their opponent off the newspaper. No turning around, no hands – just bumping power!
6. First person to step off the paper loses. Winner stays on for the next challenger!
Pro Tip: Keep questions age-appropriate and rapid-fire. The anticipation of the final “GO!” is half the fun, so don’t rush through the trivia too quickly.
4. Chopstick Pick-Up
