28 Candy-Free Valentine Favors for School

Kristy Pepping:  Do you have a lot of broken crayons laying around? Are the kids complaining they are bored during these winter weekends? If so, buy this mini muffin pan, grab your broken crayons and create melted heart-shaped crayons for a fun and easy craft. Kids will enjoy a fun art project and then passing these unique creations out as Valentine favors for school.

Kristy Pepping:  These inexpensive heart paper clips are useful Valentine favors for school. Kids can use them as bookmarks in notebooks, planners, chapter books, and more!

Erynn:  Not only are these Valentine's cards completely adorable, they also help the environment and won't be left to the landfill after the holiday season ends. Each card contains seeds inside its paper, so the recipient only has to follow the enclosed directions to plant and grow their very own wildflowers.

Other options let you take a DIY approach, like these Bloomin seed paper hearts! Just be sure to add a note telling your Valentine how to use them (and not to taste-test).

Kristy Pepping:  I was put in charge of my preschooler's class celebration and was tasked with bringing in Valentine party favors. These straws are what I selected. I liked the fact that they could be used more than once and would make a fun addition to a child's favorite drink.

Amanda Banta:  If your kid has been through at least one year of elementary school then you likely have pencils from every holiday. While these are great to have around because my kids go through pencils quickly, the one thing I never can find is the pencil sharpener. To combat that, I'm sending sharpeners along with my boys' Valentines this year. I'm sure at least one kid will be sending in themed pencils and everyone can go home with something that can sharpen it as well.

Alexandra F.:  These slow-rising squishy keychains are perfect Valentine favors for most any school-aged kid. Something to hang on their backpack? Check. Satisfyingly squishy toy? Check. "Sweet" theme that lends itself easily to a cute Valentine's poem? Check! Really, you can't lose with this one.

Steff Allison:  I love these small, foam airplanes. I gave out last year and both kids and adults went crazy over them. Airplane competition anyone?! They were such a hit, I'm giving them out again this year. My sons (5 & 8) saw them arrive and have been asking for them.

Katie G.:  Let the kids pass out these adorable mini play-doh cans as Valentine favors for school. With festive colors and a cute, mini size, these are perfect for kids of all ages.

Alexandra F.:  For older kids, metallic or glittery markers are Valentine favors that are both fun and useful, helping to up their decorating game!

These cute bubbles with heart-shaped wands are the perfect size for little hands, and make ideal Valentine favors for preschool. Add a cute message to a card and make them a Valentine or hand out separately.

Kids can write secret messages with these invisible ink pens, which can be viewed only when the light on the pen cap is pointed at the paper.

Valentine's Day happens to hit around the time when the classroom supplies start running low, and a DIY Valentine with an "I'm Stuck on You!" sentiment accompanied by a glue stick is a cute way to replenish!

Kelly R:  I love these little magnetic bookmarks as Valentine's Day favors for school because they're cute and sweet, but still general enough to be used all year round. They come in all different themes and styles to match your kids' Valentines, but this brand is my favorite for durability!

Alexandra F.:  Who can resist that stretchy, gooey putty from our own childhood? Answer: no one, not even your older elementary school kids! Silly putty is also a great manipulative Valentine favor for little hands that might have trouble keeping still for very long!

Sarah Calamita:  I love non-candy options, especially for the little ones. Fun chapsticks are a good gift for 3+ and paired with a cute card and washi tape make for a really fun Valentine's exchange.