Valentine’s Day is internationally known as a day of love – but the romantic kind of love. Hallmark, Kay Jewelers, etc. capitalize on romantic relationships when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day. But what about celebrating the love of a family and treating loved ones with respect? Valentine’s Day is a great day to bring that to the forefront and teach kids how to be kind to family, friends, and neighbors they love.
Unlike the often fancy and sometimes cliche options for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day (chocolates, flowers and fancy dinners out), celebrating Valentine’s Day with your kids and immediate family calls for an excuse to have cute and fun dates with them. Here are some ideas. You can even combine some and make it a very memorable Valentine’s Day.
Lovey-Dovey Valentine’s Ideas Redone for Kids
1. Write love notes
Supervise your children and help them write love notes to whoever they choose. You could even treat this like a Secret Santa and have everyone draw for who they should write a love note to. If your kids can’t write quite yet, have them draw one!
2. Get crafty
There’s no shortage of Valentine’s Day crafts you can do with your child. Download some free printables your kids can cut out or check out these easy toddler crafts.
3. Give your kids a gift – but let them choose it themselves
Go to the Dollar Store or a local toy store (support local!) and let the kids choose a toy for Valentine’s Day.
4. Get cookin’
Who says you can’t have a fancy, home-cooked meal for Valentine’s Day that your children can help make? Create a menu, put each child in charge of something, and cook a family Valentine’s Day meal together. You could also create a Valentine’s Day breakfast or brunch with a pink theme – make pink pancakes, strawberry milk or a strawberry peanut butter smoothie bowl.
5. Bake Valentine’s treats
Bake cookies or cupcakes and decorate them together. If you don’t have all the ingredients you need or are short on counter space, several local bakeries offer cookie baking and/or decorating kits, which saves time. No time to bake? Make some cute snacks instead!
6. Go on a family date
Many couples go mini golfing or bowling on dates – why not go mini golfing or bowling with your kids?
7. Have a movie night
Rent a rom-com or your kids’ favorite movie and snuggle up together. Make a popcorn bar or ice cream sundae bar to make this movie night even more special.
8. Watch your wedding video or look at your wedding album
If you have a video of your wedding, you could watch that for movie night and show your kids! You can also look through your wedding album as a family.
9. Recreate typical outdoor dates inside
It is usually still chilly in the DMV in February, so going outside might not be appealing. If you typically enjoy camping, set up a tent inside and roast s’mores on the stove. Set up a picnic on the living room floor. You could even stargaze from a window for an indoor activity.
Unique Valentine’s Celebrations
10. Dance party
Crank the music and have fun and dance to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
11. Keep it local
This idea doesn’t have to involve lots of planning – we’re talking about hidden gems within your immediate neighborhood and town. One day after a playdate, my son and I had time to kill and on a drive we stumbled upon a cute little fountain in town. We’ve also stumbled upon hidden playgrounds, less-trafficked areas with sidewalks to take a walk. Your local fire department would fall in this category, too, if they’re giving tours or doing fun things for kids!
12. Plan an outing
Whether it’s to the zoo, a museum, or a local play place, your child loves to visit or even just going out to lunch, if it’s something your child enjoys, it will be special.
13. Scavenger hunt
Create a Valentine’s themed scavenger hunt! Download some sample riddles or write your own, and have a big prize at the end like a Valentine’s Day themed book or toy, or a surprise outing to one of your kids’ favorite places.
14. Get outdoors
Hopefully the weather is mild enough for a hike, walk, trip to the playground, whatever. And if it snows this Valentine’s Day (which it has the last few years), play in the snow!
15. Go to a sporting event/performance
Depending on your comfort level with crowds and COVID, go cheer on your child’s favorite Washington sports team, or see if there are any special events for kids coming to town.
16. Go for a walk
You can discover all kinds of things just by going for a walk – bonus if you have a dog that needs to get out for a walk anyways. Maybe you can walk to your downtown and go window-shopping. Maybe there are lots of construction zones nearby you can walk to and check out the construction equipment. And if not, a walk around the block is just as fun!
17. Go out for ice cream
It’s never too cold for ice cream!
18. Read Valentine’s Day Books
Grab your stash of Valentine’s Day books and snuggle up and read. Talk about the meaning behind Valentine’s Day and the importance of relationships in our lives. Your local library will likely have a display of library books too!
19. Make gifts for others
Yes, making Valentine’s Day cards is cute, but what about a cute gift for others too. Make a bouquet for a neighbor who is alone this Valentine’s Day or check out how to make a cute dishtowel or these 4 DIY V-day gifts.
20. Do a Valentine’s Day Mini Photo Session
Ok, ok, this one is more for the parents and family members, but getting adorable pics of kiddos is precious. Some photographers offer mini-sessions and now is a great time to go ahead and book!
No matter what you and your kids do for Valentine’s Day, have a happy one!
