A Calmer Valentine’s Day with First-Then Boards

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be fun — but for many kids, it can also feel overwhelming.

Between classroom parties, special activities, sugar, excitement, and schedule changes, kids with ADHD, autism, or sensory sensitivities may struggle with transitions and emotional regulation. What looks like “behavior” is often a child feeling unsure about what’s coming next.

That’s where First-Then boards can make a powerful difference.

Why Valentine’s Day Can Be Hard for Kids

Holidays bring unpredictability. Routines shift, expectations change, and there’s often a lot happening all at once. For kids who rely on structure and predictability, this can lead to:

• increased anxiety or resistance

• emotional outbursts or shutdowns

• difficulty transitioning between activities

• frustration when plans change

Kids aren’t trying to be difficult — they’re trying to make sense of a busy day.

How First-Then Boards Support Calm Transitions

First-Then boards are simple visual tools that show:
First, what needs to happen
Then, what comes next

This clarity helps kids feel safe and grounded. Instead of guessing or worrying, they can see the plan.

On Valentine’s Day, this might look like:

• First: Finish the worksheet
  Then: Valentine’s party

• First: Clean up crafts
  Then: Exchange cards

• First: Get dressed
  Then: Special Valentine activity

When expectations are clear and visual, kids are more cooperative — not because they’re forced to be, but because they feel supported.

Why Visuals Work So Well During Holidays

Visual supports reduce the mental load for kids. They:

• lower anxiety

• prevent power struggles

• reduce repeated verbal reminders

• support emotional regulation before meltdowns happen

For parents and teachers, visuals also reduce stress. You don’t have to explain the plan over and over — the board does it for you.

A Simple Way to Keep Valentine’s Fun and Calm

You don’t need to remove the fun from Valentine’s Day to keep it calm. You just need a way to guide kids through the excitement with structure and reassurance.

That’s exactly why we created the Valentine’s First-Then Kit — festive, kid-friendly visuals designed specifically for Valentine’s activities at home or school.

Small tools can make a big difference — especially on big days.

💝 If Valentine’s Day tends to feel like a lot, adding one simple visual can help everyone enjoy it more.