Everyone needs to feel loved – especially our kids. Even though Valentine’s Day often focuses on couples, the love of friends and family is so important. This Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to share the love with our kids, neighbors, friends, and family.
Want to make the most of this special day? Figure out your child’s love language! In Gary Chapman’s popular book, The 5 Love Languages, he shares the five different ways people crave love: acts of service, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch.
You may have an idea about your love language, but have you ever thought about your child’s? Even though kids can benefit from all of the love languages, it can be fun and helpful to discover your child’s primary need. Try taking this quiz with them to gain more insight into what they need and want. Then explore our favorite ways your kiddos can share in the love this Valentine’s Day!
6 Fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids
Finding new ways to celebrate the holiday with your child can create wonderful memories! Here are some of our favorite ways to spread more love and happiness this Valentine’s Day.
Acknowledge special people in your child’s life
Valentine’s Day is a great time to show love to the special people in your kid’s life and community. As we approach Valentine’s Day, spend some time talking with your kids about who they love to see in their daily lives.
Do they always speak to the same grocery store cashier or love playing with a couple of friends at the park? Do they jump up and down whenever it’s time to visit Grandma? Invite your child to make their special people a sweet Valentine's drawing. Or simply wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t always take a grand gesture to help others feel special or noticed, and that’s a wonderful thing to see in action.
Create a Valentine’s Day meal for your child
Food builds connections. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can find a way to make it special for your child. Cook your child’s favorite dish, spend time baking a sweet treat together, or connect while decorating the table with cut-out hearts or flowers.
Looking for some fun Valentine’s Day-themed food? Grab a heart-shaped mold and create delicious chocolate chip pancakes. Or cut some heart-shaped strawberries and make these delicious muffins for a special Valentine’s breakfast. For dinner, you can try spaghetti and meatballs with a special pink sauce or create a heart-shaped pizza to share.
No matter what you do, invite the kids to help in some way. The time spent together plus a yummy meal is sure to create some Valentine’s memories.
Write letters to each other
Hand-written notes always feel special in this digital age. Make it a little more fun and crafty by creating special “mailboxes” for each member of the family. You and the kids can each decorate a cardboard box, or let them design their own special wooden jewelry box!
Once everyone’s crafted their mailbox, spend time writing letters or drawing pictures for each other. This can be done in the days, or even weeks, ahead of Valentine’s Day. As you finish each letter or drawing, put them in their “mailbox” to be opened and read on Valentine’s Day!
Your kids will feel so special and loved while reading your special notes and affirmations. Bonus — this doesn’t have to be a Valentine’s Day only activity. Keep the loving mail going all year long to keep your connection strong.
And don’t forget the grandparents! Invite your kids to write letters or draw pictures for their grandparents or other favorite relatives! Keep it fresh with heart-shaped paper or Valentine’s Day-themed stickers and let them go to town. It is sure to make the recipient feel special (as long as it’s not full of glitter 😉).
Give a thoughtful gift
What lights your child up? Unicorns, rainbows, dinosaurs, mermaids? Whatever it is, find a small token that speaks to them and their interests. At Purple Ladybug, we have amazingly fun gifts for your creative child. They can color in their own mermaid puzzle, or decorate a water bottle with their favorite rainbow colors. These small gifts are a great way to let them show off their style and loves!
If they love getting crafty, check out our Shrink Art Craft Kit! They can make keychains or charms of all their favorite things! It’s also the perfect way for them to create unique gifts for others.
Take them on a “date”
We’ve all spent a lot of time at home lately, so any outing is a big deal. Depending on your comfort levels, plan a special day out with your kiddo. Catch a new movie, go to their favorite museum, visit the local playground, or explore a hiking trail. Even a trip to the store
Not comfortable going out? You can have an adventure without ever leaving your car! Drive a scenic view, then park and have a picnic (in or out of the car) in an isolated spot. Or stay in and play a silly game or listen to a funny podcast together. These activities are a great way to keep everyone laughing.
No matter what you do, try putting the electronics away so you can both be present in these special moments. Spending one-on-one time together is always a wonderful gift.
Share hugs and cuddle time
Wrap them up in a big hug in the morning, surprise them with an embrace in the afternoon, and then hug it out again at bedtime! If your kid is a hugger, there is no better way to show them your love this Valentine’s Day.
At the end of the day, snuggle up on the couch with a good book and read aloud to them. Or find a new family-friendly movie to stream. Share some popcorn and a blanket and enjoy your evening together!
We hope you have a Valentine’s Day full of love and laughter!
Showing our kids how special they are is something we can do every day. These simple ways to spend time together are awesome for any time of the year. But Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to try something new.
So bring on all the heart-shaped food, glitter, and love! We hope you enjoy every minute of this special day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
