Kids take such great pleasure in expressing their feelings toward each other, it's no wonder Valentine's Day is a huge event in schools. Here are some tips from the experts at Hallmark on preparing your child for the big day:

Ask the teacher for a class list. Be sure everyone gets a card.

Prepare treats everyone can enjoy. Avoid nuts or other ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.

Let the kids choose. There are different cards available to suit all kids' interests. The big draws this year include Ratatouille, Spiderman, Barbie as The Island Princess, Pirates of the Caribbean, High School Musical and Hot Wheels.

Get them writing. Encourage the kids to write their own messages, such as "Let's have a play date."

Let them get creative. If they're too young to write, stickers help them personalize the messages.

Remember the teacher. It's a small way to show appreciation for your child's next-favourite role model.