Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples; it’s the perfect opportunity to shower your little ones with love and create cherished memories as a family. It’s become one of my favorite holidays since having kids. Or perhaps I should say one of my favorite smaller holidays… it doesn’t hold a flame to Christmas and Thanksgiving obviously.
With a little creativity and early February planning, you can turn February 14th into a day your kids look forward to each year.
Here are some simple and meaningful at-home traditions we do every year to make Valentine’s Day extra special for your kiddos:
01 | Start the day off right with Love Notes
Kick off the day by leaving love notes for your kids to find. Write heartfelt messages about what you adore about them and hide the notes in places like their lunchboxes, backpacks, or even taped to the bathroom mirror. These sweet reminders of your love will brighten their day.
Last year I got these cute hearts that came in red and pink and taped them to their bedroom door to see first thing when they wake up. I was going to hand-cut them but who am I kidding? $6 bucks for perfect hearts and zero time cutting was well worth it!
Each heart has a reason why I love them. Some are goofy like “your breath smells great,” while others are empowering like “you consistently put other’s needs before your own.”
My daughter actually re-taped these to the inside of her closet the next day, which just filled me up with joy that they meant so much to her!
02 | Create a Special Breakfast
While the kids are reading or finding their love notes and getting ready, I love to put together a quick and easy, yet special, breakfast to celebrate the day.
You can transform an ordinary breakfast into a festive celebration with heart-shaped pancakes, pink smoothies, or toast topped with strawberry jam cut into hearts. Add a sprinkle of red and pink decorations to the table for a cheerful touch. Bonus points for adding love-themed napkins or Valentine’s day plates!
(Bonus idea: use the plates and napkins again for dinner and include the napkins in their lunchboxes for school)
I personally don’t have the time though to hand-make anything too complicated, so I love these adorable Breakfast Sundaes from Dinner at the Zoo. It’s colorful, fun, and done in 2 minutes! I love adding in bananas as well.
03 | Get Them a Special Outfit
This really depends on your kid, but if they get excited about a special Valentine’s Day T-shirt, there are plenty to chose from on Amazon for under $15. Blakely’s at the age now where that would probably mortify her, but Brayden still loves it.
If your kid doesn’t want to stand out with a funny T-shirt saying “Sorry Ladies, but Mom is my Valentine,” or something of that nature, you can always get them something red or pink to wear, or maybe something that’s just special like a bracelet or fun socks.
04 | Make Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets
One of my favorite parts of the morning is seeing their faces opening their surprise Valentine’s Day baskets. Now, these I don’t do every year… but last year I was feeling extra generous! I know boo-baskets and Easter baskets can go waaay overboard, so I try to keep mine simple. Little things that make them feel special and loved… because that is the point after all!
I got the baskets last year at Target: they came as a pack of 2 or 3… can’t quite remember. They were the priciest item of everything I got them but I do think they made a “wow” moment for the kids. There are some cute similar ones on amazing and I’m sure Target will have something similar again this year!
Add in some cute Valentine’s Day tissue. I am grabbing this one on Amazon. Super cheap, 6 different prints and super cute!
I love finding unique cards too. Blakely’s opened up last year which, as you can tell by the picture, she loved! Brayden’s had a funny pop-up doggy bumb. What 7-year-old boy doesn’t crack a laugh at that?
I can’t honestly remember what else I put in them last year. But this year I’m picking up a few little things. Blakely is 10 and growing up so fast… she’s now full-on into her Tween phase. If you have a daughter around this age you know what I mean! Skincare routines and spa packages please and thanks!
But, given I’m not a mom who shovels out $50 for her desired Drunk Elephant fine line cream…. she’ll be getting this instead:
- Valentine’s Day Mad Libs
- Valentine’s Hidden Pictures Puzzles
- Extra cozy socks are always a hit!
- Valentine’s Day Joke Book for Kids
- Boxed Valentine’s Day Candy Necklace
- Ring Pops
05 | Decorate the House After They Go To Sleep
A few extra touches goes a long way! I love throwing up a few easy decorations after the kids fall asleep so they’re extra surprised in the morning.
Here are a few Valentine’s Day decoration ideas under $10 that are super easy but make a big impact:
- Blow up Red, Pink and White Balloons and leave around the house
- Throw Heart Confetti on the dining table and kitchen counters
- String Valentine’s Day Heart Lights down your stairs or in the kids’ bathroom
- Hang an adorable Heart Banner across your mantel
- Hang a Heart Garland from the ceiling over your kitchen island, dining table, or down the stairs
06 | Make a “Reasons Why I Love You” Jar
Got a mason jar handy? Or even a bowl works! Throw some ribbon around it and have it ready to go in a central spot to use all day.
Spend time as a family writing down all the reasons you love and appreciate each other on slips of paper. Bonus if they’re on theme in red and pink. If you got the cute hearts I talked about earlier for your Love Notes, you could easily use these!
Encourage everyone to write things throughout the day and add them to the jar. Then read them aloud after dinner. This simple activity fosters connection and gratitude, making everyone feel valued and loved.
07 | Include your Pets!
Last year was the first year we had our Golden Retriever Brody on Valentine’s Day so I couldn’t NOT include him. I got him some cute Valentine’s Day dog treats from Mud Bay while I was grabbing his dog food, but these dog treats from Amazon are adorable too!
Being a new dog mom, of course I was super excited about this! But the kids got such a kick out of it too! Definitely a new tradition we’ll do every year!
08 | Surprise Them at School and Help Their Class Party
This one may or may not be applicable or doable, but if you can get the opportunity to go into their classroom, take it. I typically let the kids know if I’m volunteering but last year I kept it a surprise and Brayden freaked out! I loved seeing how excited he was when I walked into his class. We snapped a quick photo at the end of the party. One of my favs!
09 | Add Some Cute Surprises to Their Lunches
This could be in the sense of cutting their PB&J into a heart with a cookie cutter or adding in some special love-themed napkins. If you didn’t overboard them with love notes, a simple handwritten note is all you really need to make them feel loved.
This year, Brayden has really loved when I put some jokes in his lunch randomly. I typically put three in so each of his friends at his table can tell one. He says they all love it!
We’ve reused them over and over, so I’m planning on getting this Valentine’s Day Joke Pack to surprise him with this year!
10 | Do a Valentine’s Day Craft After School
Spend the afternoon making Valentine’s crafts or doing an activity together. Create handmade cards for family and friends, decorate paper hearts to hang around the house, or make DIY heart-shaped garlands.
The kids loved doing a Valentine’s Day-themed Gingerbread House last year. I included it behind their Valentine Baskets so they were surprised and could look forward to doing it together after school
11 | Do a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Plan a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to small treats or surprises. Hide heart-shaped chocolates, little toys, or handwritten notes around the house. Watching your kids’ faces light up as they solve each clue is priceless.
12 | Bake a Special Dessert
Cookies, cupcakes, or brownies can be decorated with pink frosting, heart sprinkles, and lots of love. Bring the whole family into the kitchen to bake some day of Valentine’s Day goodies for dessert. Baking together is a wonderful way to teach your kids new skills while enjoying some delicious results!
This year I’m going to surprise them with their own spatula to make it a little more fun and festive. You could also include these in their baskets!
13 | Have a Fancy Dinner by Candlelight
Whether you make or buy something special, making it feel fancy with candles always makes for a great memory! We like to put on some old school music like Ella Fitzgerald to make it feel different than our ordinary dinners. Have the kids help set the table and remind them that they’re delicious dessert will soon be enjoyed too!
Related: The Best 25 Holiday Appetizers
14 | Have a Family Movie Night
End the day with a cozy Valentine’s Day-themed movie night. Snuggle up with blankets, popcorn, and hot cocoa. Choose family-friendly films with themes of love and friendship, like The Princess and the Frog, Frozen, or Lady and the Tramp.
15 | End the Day with a Bedtime Surprise
Wrap up the day with a small surprise under their pillow, such as a new book, a small stuffed animal, pajamas, or a heartfelt note. It’s a sweet way to end a day full of love and joy.
Conclusion
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. By incorporating a few thoughtful traditions, you can create a day filled with love, laughter, and memories that your kids will treasure for years to come.
What’s one of your traditions that you love to do on Valentine’s Day? We’d love to know!
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