Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Kids in Central Ohio

These Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your kids from women-owned businesses in Central Ohio are fun, sweet, and, most importantly, delicious!

Guest Post by: Katie Sorokas

Valentine’s Day is all about loving on special people in your life and your little ones, tweens, and teens are no exception! Kids and teens alike will love chocolate, candy, a special shirt or craft, or bath bomb as a Valentine’s Day gift. And shopping local means loving on local business women and mamas as well!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Are you the type of person who goes all in on a family celebration with cupids, chocolate, and hearts? Or lets this holiday go by without a ton of effort and might pick up some discounted chocolate on February 15th? Maybe somewhere in-between with a dinner date for the grownups and pizza night for the kiddos?

While Valentine’s Day card and candy exchanges at schools may look different this year, you may be inspired to treat your kiddos to a fun and special celebration at home.

My little guy is just big enough to be talking about Valentine’s Day at preschool, and he is all about the red hearts and, most importantly, chocolate. We are always looking for an excuse to bake a cake in our house so we will be all forks into a decadently decorated cake on Valentine’s Day – and maybe a little treat yo self for the kiddos too! 

Rather than scoop up something from the Dollar Spot at Target this year, I am intentionally buying gifts and treats from local, women-owned businesses in Central Ohio.

Investing our dollars in our local economy, and especially to women-owned businesses, helps to grow both these entrepreneurs’ small businesses and keeps a workin’ mama’s dream alive another season. These dollars also stay in the local economy longer than a dollar spent at Target. 

Heads up – You may have to plan a bit more shopping local than you might at a big box store. These stores and shops are striving to make shopping local easy as pie (or cake!) with online orders and contactless pick up. Even if just a small part of your Valentine’s Day is full of small business love, you are rocking it by supporting a local mama and family. 

I hope these spotlighted businesses help you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a little more love and fun this year! We could all use a sweet holiday filled with chocolate this season <3 

Valentine’s Gift Ideas For Tummies of All Ages:

Donna’s Delicious Dozen (Gahanna)

Checkout the yummy specials on Valentine’s Day donuts or (my favorite!) a DIY donut kit so you and your littles can decorate together!

Mara Bakes (Columbus)

Let Timmura, an award-winning baker with a home-based bakery business, make your Valentine’s Day a smashing success with a “smash heart” or paint-your-own cookie kit! She is also offering up cocoa bombs and tea bombs! Check out her social media for more details!

The Blue Turtle Tea & Spice Company (Westerville)

The ladies at The Blue Turtle Tea & Spice Company will set you up with all you need to host a delightful and sweet (or delicious and rowdy depending on your crowd of tiny humans!) tea party. They have everything you need to sip and toast to a day of loving on the special ones in your life. 

Foraged & Sown (Online)

Foraged & Sown can supply you with some yummy locally grown tea as well to fill your cup!

Valentine’s Gift Ideas For the Younger Crowd:

Wild Cat Gift & Party Store (Columbus)

With a section called “All Pink Everything,” Wild Cat has your Valentine’s Day decorations covered! And pick up a DIY coral reef crystal growing kit or dinosaur model kit for your little one while you are there!

City Folk Farm Shop (Columbus)

This family-owned homestead and farm shop will set your kiddos up for a Valentine’s Day outdoor adventure on the nature trail or a sweet garden to grow with love. Get your little ones involved in growing their own food right in your backyard (or on your windowsill!). Seed packets featuring a variety of pink and red fruits and veggies will fit right in this season. 

Valentine’s Gift Ideas For Tweens & Teens:

Natterdoodle (Columbus & Online)

From sweet cards to fun stickers for those Hydroflask water bottles to whimsical workshops, Natterdoodle has you covered! Natalie, the owner, has a mission to “sprinkle positivity confetti” around the world, and her art and style will do just that with your teenager! The stickers are adorable and sassy – and the workshops will be a win with your teen! My fav is the Virtual Intro to Handlettering workshop! 

Originalitees (Online)

Show Ohio and your teen some love with an Ohio proud shirt from Originalitees! This Ohio-based business includes a variety of tees in men, women, and child sizes. 

Earth Elements

Treat yo kiddo to a spa day with bath bombs, face masks, aftershave lotion, and more from Earth Elements (and might as well pick up something for yourself)! Simple, natural skincare products and toiletries made in Columbus will shower both you and this small business with love! Check out their Valentine’s Day Gift Guide online for more gift ideas too. 

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Katie Sorokas is a mama on a mission to raise up women-owned businesses in Ohio. Showcasing mamas workin’ their goals and chasin’ their dreams makes her heart grow almost as big as a giant box of chocolates. When she’s not having a dance party or on an outdoor adventure with her two little boys, she is writing at Realistically Aspirational and setting up her new Ohio mini-homestead. Follow her on Instagram at @Katie_Heartland and check out her musings on mamas chasin’ goals at www.realisticallyaspirational.com.