Land of Make Believe

Sweets: Any boy would appreciate a delicious snack for Valentine’s Day. Chocolates and treats are not going to result in any complaints. Consider getting him a giant-sized candy bar or a gum ball machine of his own. Get a decorative cookie jar and fill it with mixed candies, snacks or baked goods. If you will be sending your valentine gifts long distance, choose a gift basket filled with candy that a kid would like.

Movie package: Get a large popcorn tub and fill it with fun items for a movie night. Add a DVD or two of his favorite children’s movies. Put in some microwave popcorn packages and candy. Add a small toy that relates to the movies you’ve chosen. Wrap it in plain red cellophane and tie a ribbon around it.

Bath basket: Get a basket and fill it with bath items made especially for little boys. Find a towel featuring his favorite superhero or cartoon character. Add some plastic bath toys featuring his favorite characters, too. Give him some soap crayons or bathtub paints for extra fun in the tub. Look for shampoo, soap and bubble bath designed for boys to complete the package.

Jewelry: There’s no reason you can’t present a boy with a nice gift of jewelry on Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for something that will be treasured, a simple silver chain or a boy’s watch can make a great gift, especially for teenagers. Religious jewelry can also make special valentine gifts for boys.

Treasure box: Get a cardboard box shaped like a treasure box and fill it with fun games and treats to create a unique valentine gift. Like a gift basket, you can fill these boxes with whatever you think would be fun and appreciated. You might go with a theme, such as sports gear or art supplies. Alternately, you can simply fill it with a mixture of toys, such as action figures, small games, building toys, puzzle books and comics.

Artwork: Look for children’s artwork to help him personalize his bedroom. You could have a special piece of art made for the boy, or, if you’re a crafty, make something yourself. Take a photograph of the boy to an artist and have a caricature drawn of him as a superhero, cowboy or pirate. Make a photo collage of him doing some of his favorite activities and frame it. You could also have some of his own artwork professionally framed for display.