Valentine's Day is a special day to focus on those you love. It's an opportunity to teach kids about the meaning of love within your own family as well as to perform acts of kindness for others.
To help parents make this holiday a family affair, here are some creative ways moms and dads can teach their kids about love.
- Eat with love. Make a Valentine's dinner together using foods that are red in color. For example, for starters make a beet or tomato salad; and for dessert make strawberries, cherry pie or raspberry sorbet. Drinks can include Sprite or 7-up mixed with cranberry juice. Let the kids help cook, plus decorate the table.
- Family movie date night. Why not enjoy a family movie with a romantic theme? There are many such films that kids enjoy, such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Anastasia," "Be My Valentine Charlie Brown," "Cinderella," "High School Musical" and many more. So grab some popcorn and cozy up together with blankets.
- Sharing your love. Show your kids what love is truly all about by sharing it and volunteering together at a local food pantry, dog shelter or nursing home. The nursing home residents will love seeing bright, happy young faces. Ahead of time, make special valentines to hand out.
- Secret valentine exchange. Try a secret valentine exchange with small handmade gifts and candy. Ask each family member to pick a name. This will give you and your kids an opportunity to be crafty and creative. Think outside the box to come up with gifts for your valentine, such as baking heart-shaped cookies, making handmade red-and-pink bracelets, crafting Valentine's Day photo frames, etc. Every member of the family will love having his or her own special valentine.
- Sweet treats scavenger hunt. Provide the kids with a map, or leave clues around the house that lead to yummy valentine's treats and notes.
If you have more than one child, try giving your kids different maps for different surprises to keep it interesting, competitive and fun.
- Tree of love. Trees aren't just for Christmas anymore. Spray-paint an artificial Christmas tree pink (or use a white one) and decorate it as a family with handmade valentines, pink and red paper hearts, pink lights and family photos. Creating the "ornaments" of love will ensure an afternoon of fun.
Valentine's Day is a special time to teach kids important lessons about loving and serving others while at the same time creating meaningful family traditions. Modeling love through shared activities has a profound impact on kids, and it is so easy to do.
Happy Valentine's Day!