This post contains a sponsored inclusion of CVS Photo but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
"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.
1. Commemorate your family story
What I appreciate most about Valentine’s Day as a mom is that I can use the day to emphasize how much we love each other as a family. Instead of using it as another day to give presents, I love the idea of creating a photo book together filled with sweet family memories. Have your kids choose their favorite pictures from family vacations or silly moments, and if they’re old enough, help pick a photo book design and page layouts. Their input will also make the final product that much more special. We make our photo books through CVS Photo because they’re affordable, easy to create online, and they offer same-day pickup.
CVS Photo
Choose from dozens of different photo book layouts and styles. Use code SAVE50 to get 50% off CVS sitewide!
2. 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.
Williams Sonoma
Amazon
3. 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 A Cinderella Story, Lady and the Tramp, and The Princess Bride.
4. 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.
Baketivity
5. 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.
6. Make holiday-themed jewelry
There are tons of fun Valentine’s crafts to do with kids, no matter their age. But if you want a little guidance and less work gathering materials, you can buy pre-made kits that make crafting a breeze. This one from Amazon looks particularly adorable, not to mention you’ll get sentimental jewelry out of it that you’ll love to show off post-V-Day. Make it extra cute with Valentine’s Day charms, too!
Amazon | JJzswish
Amazon | SANNIX
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of CVS Photo but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
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