Valentine's Day Ideas with Your Kid

This might be the perfect day for your family to do special expressions of love and appreciation for one another, in a fun and meaningful way! Here are some ideas:

Valentine Food

For breakfast you can make pink pancakes, heart-shaped waffles or toast. Dress it up with red fruit, such as strawberries or raspberries.  It doesn’t have to take a long time to cook to be festive and fabulous. Using a bit of red food coloring can turn regular lunch and dinner into a special meal, featuring red mashed potatoes, pink applesauce or red pasta! You have the option of making it a surprise, or get everyone involved in creating Valentine’s Day breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. 

Valentine Heart Love Notes

Decorate your child’s door or mirror with love notes.  Fill the heart-shaped paper with things you love or appreciate about them. You can find free templates here:  https://www.skiptomylou.org/heart-attack

Make Gift Certificates

Have the family make gift certificates for one another, for example: “I will do one chore for you,” “I will watch an episode of a TV show or movie you like with you”, “I will play Legos/cards/board game with you,” or “I will make a breakfast of your choice.”

Do a Random Act of Kindness Together

Bake cookies for a neighbor. Do something for those who may not have someone to share this day with. Valentine’s Day is a great day to express love for fellow humans, even those you don’t know. If Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, like it does this year, it can be a wonderful chance to share with your children the spirit of volunteering. Maybe there's a homeless shelter you can drop off care packages to, or drop off food at a local food pantry… Not only are you spending time with your child, you're showing them how they can express love and care for the world around them.

Do Something Simple but Different

Have a picnic in a local park at one of your meals, play a favorite board game, have a candlelit meal and use your china or special dishes that you rarely use, do a special craft project, or instead of expensive bouquets - spend time together planting some of your own plants!

SPECIAL TIP

Our children won’t remember all the intricate details of our pink ceramic centerpieces or the frosted roses on their pancakes.  They’ll remember how they felt while they were spending time with us.