Tuesday, April 08, 2025
10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Family
Kids love holidays and traditions, and there are lots of
fun ways to make Valentine's Day special. Here are some easy tips on how to
make the most out of Valentine’s Day with your children.
Decorate Your House:
Head to your local dollar store for some inexpensive
decorations like balloons and streamers, and then let your kids hang them up.
You can decorate with items like flowers, ribbons, and tablecloths too. It's
also fun to make your own decorations. Use pink, red, and white construction
paper to make paper chains and then hang them from the ceiling. Or let your
children create some heart-themed artwork and hang it on your walls.
Make Handmade Valentine's:
You can always buy Valentine's Day cards, but if you've
got the time, most kids enjoy making their own. One easy way is to cut a heart
out of construction paper and then glue a white paper doily on top. Let your
children decorate these with markers, glitter, stickers, and candy hearts. You
can also find lots of ideas for handmade crafts online. Mail these cards to
friends and family, or deliver some to a local nursing home and teach your kids
how to make Valentine's Day special for someone else.
Get Crafty:
If you enjoy making crafts, you don't have to stop with
handmade cards. For young children, download printable coloring pages. For
older children, visit websites to find pictures and descriptions of lots of
great craft ideas.
Play Games:
Many games that are childhood favorites can be modified to
include a Valentine's Day theme. For example, it's easy to find free printable
templates for games like Valentine's Bingo or Tic-Tac-Toe. Make the games even
more fun by using those cute little candy hearts in place of chips. It can also
be fun to create your own Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt by writing clues on
paper hearts that lead to a special gift or treat. If you're short on time and
looking for something super-easy, let your kids play some of the many
Valentine’s computer games that are available online.
Head to the Kitchen:
Valentine's Day makes a great excuse to indulge in some
delicious treats, and cooking and baking provide all kinds of valuable lessons
in many aspects of math and reading. Even little children can pour and dump,
and older kids can learn to read recipes and measure ingredients. Make some
heart-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them with pink frosting and sprinkles.
If you prefer chocolate, try making chocolate-covered strawberries or easy
homemade truffles.
Host a Party:
Once you've got the house decorated, the games planned,
and the treats prepared, why not host a Valentine's Day party? Invite a few
friends or just the stuffed animals. Plan to play some of the games and make
some of the crafts listed above, and then serve treats with heart-themed
plates, cups, and napkins. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to make heart-shaped
tea sandwiches, and don't forget to mix up a pink punch.
Start a Tradition:
Family traditions provide children with a sense of
security and belonging, and are fun and rewarding for the entire family. A
tradition can be as simple as having breakfast together and serving
heart-shaped pancakes on Valentine's Day morning, or setting aside a special
time during the day each year to share the things you love about each other.
Learn Something:
Holidays almost always provide a teachable moment, and
Valentine's Day is no exception. Explore the legend of St. Valentine and the
history of Valentine's Day by reading books from your local library or
bookstore. You can also take the opportunity to encourage reading by choosing a
few of the many great Valentine’s Day books available and reading them with
your kids.
Talk About Hearts:
Did you know that February is National Heart Month? Take
the opportunity and use Valentine's Day to teach your children about the real
human heart. Depending upon the ages of your children, you could also talk to
them about heart disease, and consider setting a good example by donating some
of your own time or money to an organization.
Tell Your Children You Love Them:
This one seems like a no-brainer, right? But sometimes
it's easy to assume that our children know that we love them and forget to say
the actual words. Even if you tell them every day, tell them again. They're
three simple words, but children can never hear them enough. And cards and
hearts and candy aside, isn't love what Valentine's Day is really all about?
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