I still remember the high school excitement of having my first boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t wait to find out if he’d bring me flowers at school and what local little restaurant we’d be going to. Back then, we would spend way too much money on a prix fixe meal. I’m sure our 17-year-old selves thought it was so fancy and grown up.
Now I’m in my 30s and have two toddlers. Of course, the idea of a dinner for two out of the house does sound lovely, especially nowadays. We just don’t always make time to go out very often. Even so, I’m pretty excited to be celebrating Valentine’s Day at home with my little family instead. I can’t wait to give them an array of V-Day gifts to open up this year. This Valentine’s Day may not include overpriced steak or the butterflies of young love. However, I’ll still make sure it will include cookie decorating and adult beverages. If you’re planning a kid-friendly, at-home Valentine’s Day celebration this year, here are some fun ideas for family-friendly ways to party throughout the day.
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1. Wake up to a heart-y breakfast
Start your day off with a surprise for your little ones: heart-shaped waffles! You can definitely make this an interactive activity. Have your kids help you mix the batter or turn breakfast into a decadent treat. My favorite part is letting them use toppings like fresh fruit, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and whipped cream to decorate their breakfast. If you don’t want to buy a heart-shaped waffle maker for this one day, make pancakes and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter instead.
2. Watch a sweet movie together
Family movie night is never a bad idea. There are plenty of family-friendly movies that are perfect for celebrating the holiday of love. Think cute kid-friendly movies like Elemental, Gnomeo and Juliet, and Ella Enchanted.
3. Make Valentines Day-themed crafts
There are tons of fun Valentine’s crafts to do with kids, no matter their age. Think heart-shaped suncatchers and decorated photo frames of the people we love. If you want to get messy, you could even help your kiddos make some red or pink slime. Let them lead the way and show off their creativity!
4. Write notes to family members
When spreading the love this Valentine’s Day, don’t forget extended family members! Encourage your little ones to write notes to family members like grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and cousins. Then, send them out in the mail as a sweet surprise for the important people in their lives.
5. Bake and decorate special treats
And to keep the sweets going, heart-shaped Valentine’s Day treats are a win on Valentine’s Day. Bake homemade cookies to enjoy yourself or drop them on a neighbor’s doorstep to spread the love. Whip up your favorite sugar cookie recipe or order a cookie-making kit as a surprise for your kids.
6. Write poems together
Poetry is the language of love and a classic way to show devotion on Valentine’s Day. Give your little ones the prompt, “Roses are red, violets are blue…” It’s fun to see what their creative minds come up with. You may even come out with some refrigerator-worthy creations.
7. Craft cards for the neighborhood
We all love our children’s artwork, don’t get me wrong. But a holiday is the perfect excuse to do some crafting that will then leave the house (passing the love onto others!). Create homemade valentines to distribute to neighbors and nearby friends. This also makes for a great opportunity to get out of the house for a family walk to drop off the letters.
8. Cheers with mocktails and cocktails
Hopefully, your kids are sticking to their reasonable bedtime. Even with a day full of sugary treats, you’ll be able to sneak in some adult time with homemade cocktails. If the kids are staying up late, invite them into the fun as well with mocktails suitable for dads, pregnant moms, and kids alike. Think Shirley Temples or flavored seltzer with fresh fruit for the littles and wine (or an alcohol-free variety) for the adults.
9. Make and fill a ‘Love Jar’
Either on February 14th or before, grab a mason jar, decorate it as you please, and coin it the “Love Jar.” In this jar, you and your kiddos can write down small acts of kindness or love you may have noticed with your family, friends, or at school. Not only will it encourage reflection and thoughtful conversation, but it’s bound to foster new family memories.
10. Have a Valentine’s Day-themed story night
Get one last cuddle sesh in while everyone is in their cute Valentine’s Day PJs! Cuddle up with the kids and end the night reading your most loved story books. Don’t worry if you don’t have any Valentine’s Day-themed books. You can have each kid pick their favorite one, and they can say why they love it so much. Whether you read one book or five, this is a fun, family-friendly V-Day tradition for the whole family.
11. Go on a family date
This will look different family to family. Maybe you let your kids choose something they’ve been wanting to do for a long time—visit the local aquarium, or have a family picnic at the park—or perhaps you decide on something as a family beforehand. Regardless, try to make this day a carved out period of time to celebrate how much you all love one another.
12. Plan a Valentines Day surprise—and get the kids involved!
While kids aren’t always the best at keeping secrets, there are plenty of ways to pull off a surprise while still involving them. Maybe it’s breakfast in bed, or a thoughtful gift for one of their parents. Getting involved in the process will make them excited about the prospect of doing things for others.
13. Plan a family photo session
Photo sessions can be an uncomfortable, long process for a lot of kids (and parents). But don’t sweat this one! Maybe you all get dressed up in nice outfits, have a picnic at the park, and use your iPhone for a fun family photoshoot. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, just something to capture that moment in time. You’ll want the memories for later!
14. Volunteer together
Looking to get the family out of the house for the day? Since Valentines Day is all about spreading love, visit a local food bank or senior living facility to get involved. Maybe your kiddos put together a bag of old toys to donate to those in need, or maybe they write Valentines Day cards for the elderly. Whatever you choose, they’ll leave the experience understanding the importance of spreading kindness all year round.
15. Craft thank you notes for a teacher, nanny, or babysitter
There’s no better time than Valentines Day to thank those who give us the extra help we need with our kiddos—perhaps a daycare teacher or a weekend babysitter. Whether they’re with your kids five days a week or just every once in a while, they’ll love to hear from you and your little ones on a day that’s all about love and kindness. Let your kids lead the way with this one!
Amanda Shapin Michelson, Former Editor
Amanda is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and motherhood. She recently wrote the book Pregnancy Hacks, sharing tips to comfortably get through the major ups and downs of pregnancy. She currently works for Babylist and lives in Maryland with her husband, kids Millie, Ezra, and Sloane, and pup Ollie.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern
As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.
