Valentine’s Day is not just for grown-ups

Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovebirds — just ask the kindergartners at Vidalia Lower Elementary School.

To 5- and 6-year-olds the holiday is mostly about heart shaped chocolates and suckers and cartoon-themed cards.

“The most important thing about Valentine’s Day is that you get cards and candy,” Brodie Lemaster said. “You get lots of candy and all different kinds of candy.”

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Mickey Hogan said he is looking forward to Valentine’s Day because he knows there will be plenty of candy to eat and take home. But he knows from past experiences that he must be careful not to overindulge.

“If I eat too much candy, I’ll start bouncing off the walls,” he said.

But he isn’t keeping the candy all to himself. Mickey said he will share candy with his family as a way of telling them he loves them.

“If you share your favorite candy, that means you really like someone,” he said.

Ethan Wilson is going to give his mother some candy to say “Thank you” for being a good mom.

“She is always nice to me and gives me candy,” he said. “I want to give her some candy, too.”

Journi Smith is already planning a sugary surprise for her mother. Journi said giving candy is the best way to tell someone you love them.

“My mom gives me candy for Valentine’s Day because she loves me, and I’m going to give her candy because I love her,” she said.

But while most Valentine candy is red or pink, Desiree Polk will be searching for her favorite blue suckers.

She said there aren’t many around on Valentine’s Day, but she’s hoping she’ll get at least one.

“I like that they turn my tongue blue,” she said. “It’s fun.”

Derrick Cooper is making a red puppy-shaped Valentine card to give to his entire family because he loves them all and didn’t want to have to pick just one person.

The Valentine card was a class project for Ellen Yates’ kindergarten class.

“I think they will probably hang it up so everybody can see it every day,” he said.

Nasif Gardner also picked a special person in his life to give his homemade Valentine card.

“I’m going to give it to Mrs. Yates because I love her,” he said. “She is sweet and teaches us a lot, and I give her a hug her every time I come in the room.”

But even kindergartners know the holiday is about more than candy and cards. Ami Mullins said the day is a “special day to tell people that you like them.”

“I’m going to tell my family ‘Happy Valentine’s Day, and that I love them,’” she said.