Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples who want to celebrate their love. It’s also a great time to connect with your kids and share fun traditions. When I was a kid, my mom would leave a box of chocolates on my bed every Valentine’s Day. It was a sweet thing that she always did. I looked forward to that little tradition even throughout my teenage years. Often, I’d grab my box and nosh on chocolates while I chatted with her about my school day. It was a small thing that made me feel loved every year. Valentine’s Day can be a great opportunity for you to share that connection with your kids too. Here are 25 fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids.
Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Let your kids know that they have a special surprise waiting for them on Valentine’s Day. Hide some candy around the house, leaving little notes in each spot to tell them where their next clue is. The final clue should lead to a bigger prize like an activity or fun gift you’ve picked out especially for them.
Deliver treats to someone special
One of my favorite things to do on Valentine’s Day is to deliver treats to someone special. I love surprising my friends and family with little boxes of chocolates or cookies. It’s a really easy way to spread the love around. Plus, it always puts a smile on everyone’s face. Have your kids help you choose or make a treat and deliver it to someone special.
Dinner “I love You’s”
For a really special Valentine’s Day dinner, make it all about saying “I love you.” Start by making a simple meal that everyone can enjoy and write I love you on the top of each plate with edible ink or food coloring. You can even go around the table and tell each family member how much you love them. It’ll be a sweet way to end the evening.
Send snail mail
Another way to show your love on Valentine’s Day is to send snail mail. It can be as simple as writing a letter or drawing a picture. Or, you could put together a little care package with some of your kid’s favorite things. They’ll love getting something special in the mail just for them. Alternatively, you could have your kids help you send something in the mail to a grandparent or favorite aunt.
Watch a movie together
Cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie with your kids. Movies like Cinderella or Be My Valentine Charlie Brown offer a little love story or Valentine’s related fun. Pop some popcorn, grab some drinks, and enjoy a little family time.
Do a Random Act of Kindness
Every day is a great day for Random Acts of Kindness. Especially Valentine’s Day. This Valentine’s Day, help your kids show the people around you how much they mean to you with a kind gesture. Encourage them to help someone carry their groceries or shovel snow from an elderly neighbor’s sidewalk. It doesn’t take much time and it will make everyone involved feel good! Keep the kids involved by asking what Random Acts of Kindness they would like to do.
Make a Valentine’s Day craft
Kids love crafting, so why not get them in on the Valentine’s Day fun? There are tons of different crafts you can do with your kids. From making cards to creating a special decoration for their room, there’s something for everyone. Let them show their creative side and have some fun while they celebrate love.
Heart-Shaped Breakfast
Start Valentine’s Day off with a special breakfast that will make your kids smile. Make heart-shaped pancakes, waffles, or French toast. You can even go the easy route and buy some pre-made pink or heart shaped breakfast items from the store. Serve them with fresh fruit, yogurt, and maple syrup for a delicious meal.
Wrap a small gift for them to open in the morning.
Wrap something special for each of your kids and leave it on their bed with a note that says “Happy Valentine’s Day!” They’ll love waking up to an unexpected surprise. The best part is, you don’t have to spend much money on this gift at all! You can wrap something as simple as a new pair of socks or a favorite book.
Read a book about love
There are a ton of different children’s books about love. Read one together as a family and talk about all the different ways people show their love for each other. Some of our family favorite’s include Love Monster and Little Blue Truck’s Valentine.
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Do a love-themed photo shoot
Take some fun family photos with a love-themed backdrop. You can use Valentine’s Day props, like hearts and Cupids, or go for a more natural look with flowers and leaves. Print out the best shots and put them in a photo album or frame them on your wall as a lasting reminder of this special day.
Give them a coupon book
Give your kids a memorable and lasting gift. Kids will love redeeming coupons for special treats like an extra hour of TV time, a trip to the ice cream store, or a family game night. You can even customize the coupons to fit your child’s interests. Get a free printable here: Kids Printable Coupon Book.
Fancy Bath Time
Give your kids a special Valentine’s Day treat by giving them a relaxing bath. Add bubble bath, put on some soothing music, and let them soak in the tub for as long as they want. Enjoy some quiet time while they bathe.
Dress in Valentine’s Day clothing
Make getting dressed fun by letting your kids wear Valentine’s Day inspired clothing. This could be anything from Valentine’s Day pajamas, to your favorite red/pink shirts. Add heart earrings or socks!
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I love you because…
Fill out this “I love you because…” printable sheet for each of your kids. They’ll soak up reading about all the ways you love them!
Fondue night
A fun way to spend Valentine’s night is by having a fondue party. You can buy a fondue pot at any store, or use your slow cooker if you have one. Serve up some delicious cheese, chocolate, and fruit fondues for everyone to enjoy. Don’t forget the bread and pretzels for dipping! In our family, we like to play the simple game that if you drop your food into the pot, you have to give a kiss to the person on your left!
Decorate the house together
Get into the Valentine’s Day spirit by decorating your house together. String up some lights, put out a few bowls of candy, and hang some festive banners. You could even make your own paper hearts to hang around the room.
Plan a Valentine’s Day Party
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to have a party! Invite your friends and family over for some festive treats like chocolate covered strawberries, heart-shaped cookies, or red velvet cake. Set up an area with Valentine’s Day crafts so guests can make their own decorations. Offer a prize for the most creative ones!
Make Valentines together
Another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by making Valentines together. You can use store bought cards and stickers, or get creative and make your own from construction paper and glitter. Kids will love personalizing their Valentines for friends and family.
Make a Fancy Dinner together
Why not make a special dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Get the kids in on meal prep by having them help make dinner. They can measure out ingredients, stir pots, and even decorate plates with hearts drawn in ketchup or mustard! This is a great way to teach young ones about cooking while spending quality time. Our kids even love to be the “waiters” and bring mom and dad the food. This way mom and dad get a nice “date” while the kids have fun pretending to take our orders and pouring water.
Have a Valentine’s Day Tea Party
You can have a Valentine’s Day tea party at home or even go to a local cafe. Dress up your kids in their Sunday best and order some delicious treats like scones, cakes, and pastries. Don’t forget the fancy teacups!
Discover New Ways to say “I Love You”
Take some time to learn new ways of saying “I love you” from other cultures. You can teach your kids how to say it in different languages, make up signs for them to use with their hands, or even get creative and come up with a secret code that only they understand.
Learn about each other’s Love Languages
Have you heard of the Five Love Languages? One of the best ways to show your love for someone is to learn about their love language and start using it. What are your loved ones’ love languages? Do they prefer quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch? Once you know what makes them feel loved, start showering them with love. Learn more here.
Bake and Decorate Valentine’s Day Cookies
What could be more fun than baking cookies together on Valentine’s Day? This is one of the more common ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids. Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe, cut them out in hearts, frost, and then decorate with candy or sprinkles.
Heart themed after school snacks
Make a fun and healthy snack for the kids after school. Use heart shaped cookie cutters on sandwiches, use red fruit like strawberries or raspberries to make designs, or get creative with cheese stick hearts!