10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Kids

Valentine’s Day has snuck up on us again, and just like last year, I had a mental list of fun and insta-worthy ideas of how we could celebrate it as a family. Only, I think about this list of amazeballs ideas every year, and we’ve still only ever actually done maybe two of them…. the same two. Pathetic, or #relatable? I’m pretty sure I still have the Dollarama props I bought for the photobooth idea last year, (I think), that we didn’t end up using, so I have high hopes for this year (if I can find them, that is…). Let’s go with #relatable, shall we?

So if you’re also spending Valentine’s Day at home with your kids this year, (again), here are 10, optimistic, well-intentioned and easy-ish ways you can consider buying-stuff-for-but-end-up-not-doing to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family:

1. Make a themed meal

Making a Valentine’s Day-themed meal is easier than you think! For us, it basically means making homemade pizza (my kids’ favorite) in the shape of a heart with heart-shaped pieces of ham. I use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the shapes out of ham slices, and Presto! Heart-themed meal and impressed kids. Easy Peasy! If pizza or heart-shaped food isn’t your thing, try making a “red” meal, like pasta sauce, stuffed red peppers, etc.

If the idea of cutting ham into little heart shapes is not your jam, have pancakes for supper with whipped cream red/pink sprinkles. It’s the easiest supper ever and you will finally be the favorite parent.

2. Decorate the table

A pretty table goes a long way to making a meal feel special, even if all the food is not heart-shaped. My daughter LOVES arts and crafts, so I get her to cut out a bunch of hearts from red and pink construction paper and write our names on them as place settings. A white table cloth, red napkins, cinnamon hearts, and a few tea lights, and you’re done!

3. Door Valentines

I remember reading this idea on another blog years ago and for the life of me, I can’t remember now where I read it! A few years ago I cut out one large red heart for each of my kids and wrote their names in the middle. Each year I write one or two things I love about them and/or affirming words on their heart and stick them to their bedroom door for them to find and read when they wake up in the morning. I keep these hearts tucked away in an envelope the rest of the year and add to them each year. It’s such a special way to show my children that I see and appreciate what makes each of them unique and special in our family, and they really look forward to finding them in the morning to see what new words I’ve added.

4. Movie night

My kids absolutely LOVE movie nights. Truthfully we don’t do movie nights as a family all that often, so a giant bowl of popcorn on the couch and staying up past regular bedtime is pretty special! And if you can find a movie the whole family can agree on without turning the whole spirit of Valentine’s Day into a dumpster fire, please, please, PLEASE tell me what it is!

5. Do a photo shoot

Do you have crafty kids? Get them to make Valentine’s Day-themed props/costumes and do a family photo booth! Bonus points if you’re all wearing red, (and actually smiling) 😉

6. Game night

If a themed meal and table decorations are not your thing, make a bunch of your favorite appetizers and finger foods and have a family game night instead. Kick it up a notch with a special drink. Our favorite is cinnamon hot chocolate with whipped cream and red and white sprinkles. If you have candy canes left from Christmas, stick them in! Hey man, they’re red and white!

7. Sweet Words

Many families I know have a Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and each sharing something they are thankful for. Why not start a similar tradition on Valentine’s Day, but instead, share something you love or appreciate about each family member. If your family is anything like mine, this is the perfect opportunity to add a little more sugar to your spice 😉

8. Family memory box

Keep a few note cards in a box. Every year on Valentine’s Day, read through the memories together and have everyone share another one. Add it to the box with the family picture from the photoshoot.

9. Express gratitude

Buy a box of chocolates or bake a batch of cookies and make a valentine for a community worker. You could also make a few valentines with notes of blessing and encouragement or prayer and drop them in a few random mailboxes in your neighborhood.

10. Make a donation

This is a common practice at Christmas time, but Valentine’s Day is another great opportunity to show God’s love to our communities and our world. Some of our favorites are Compassion, local charities, (like children’s camps, food banks, and women’s shelters), as well as national organizations like MADD, Red Cross, etc. Take your pick!

There you have it! 10 sort-of-easy ways to maybe celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids…or not! 😉