How to make Valentine Day special with your kids

The concept of Valentine Day changes once the kids arrive and you want to include them in the celebrations. Kids love holidays and traditions, so you could make Valentine's Day special by lots of funny ways.

Some funny ways to make Valentine Day special with your kids:

Join with your kids to decorate your home with balloons and streamers, flowers, ribbons, and tablecloths.  You can also make your own paper chains with pink, red, and white construction paper and then hang them from the ceiling. Children could also be encouraged to create some heart-themed artwork to hang on the wall.

If you and your kids like craft, get crafty by downloading printable coloring pages for young children and visiting websites like Kaboose and Family Fun to find pictures and descriptions of lots of great craft ideas for older kids. You could also visit Martha Stewart website for harder projects where you can learn how to make embellished candy boxes or your own heart-shaped soap.

Encourage your kids to make their own Valentine Day cards in place of buying Valentine Day cards; you would find a lot of ideas for handmade Valentine cards online. Encourage your children to mail these cards to family and friends or deliver some to a local nursing home and teach them how to make Valentine's Day special for someone else.

Head to the kitchen to indulge in some delicious treats, and cooking and baking; even little children can pour and dump, and older kids can learn to read recipes and measure ingredients. Make some heart-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them with pink frosting and sprinkles. You could also make chocolate-covered strawberries or easy homemade truffles. You could try a healthy option like Red Beet and White Bean Hummus that is perfect for the occasion.

Childhood favorite games like Bingo and Tic-Tac-Toe could be modified with Valentine Day favorites like cute little candy hearts in place of chips. You could also have fun creating your own Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt by writing clues on paper hearts that lead to a special gift or treat. If you are short of time you could encourage your kids to play online Valentine's computer games.

Host a Valentine Day party once you have the house decorated, games planned and treats ready; invite a few friends or just the stuffed animals. Serve treats with heart-themed plates, cups, and napkins and use heart-shaped cookie cutters to make heart-shaped tea sandwiches; also mix up a sparkling pink punch.

Start a simple family tradition like having breakfast together and serving heart-shaped pancakes on Valentine's Day morning, or setting aside a special time during the day each year to share the things you love about each other. These traditions provide children with a sense of security and belonging, and are fun and rewarding for the entire family.

Learn something on Valentine Day; explore the legend of St. Valentine and the history of Valentine's Day by reading books from your local library or bookstore and sharing it with the kids.

February is National Heart Month, so teach your kids about the real human heart; the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation has many fun and educational links where kids can learn what their heart looks like and how to take care of it. You could talk to older children about heart disease, and set a good example by donating some of your own time or money to an organization like the American Heart Association.

Lastly tell your children you love them again and again to reassure them for isn’t Valentine Day all about love.

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