Kids constantly desire attention and affection from their parents. They all have different ways of expressing those needs, but it’s always pretty clear. Previously, I wrote about the five things our kids need most from us. A lot of those needs center around their desire to feel loved by us, their parents.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought I would share some ideas for making kids feel special and loved on that special day. It’s an excellent day to set aside time to celebrate with our kids and express our love.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romance!

Valentine’s Day is a day devoted to showing our love for others. As such, it’s a great day to show our love not only for our significant others but also our kids. I absolutely LOVE doing things for and with Zachary. This will be the first Valentine’s Day I’ll really get to celebrate with him since he was so young last year. I can’t wait!

While he’s not yet old enough to tell me what he wants to do, or what he enjoys doing, I can still give him a great day. There are so many ways to spend quality time with our kids that let them know we love them. True, we can and should show them every day, but life gets so busy sometimes that it’s often difficult to make sure we’re making enough quality time for loved ones. Kids included. So this Valentine’s Day, take the time to make it a special day for you and your kids.

While we’re making plans to spend special time with our significant others, we can also make plans for our kids. It can be a great family day, or the little ones can spend some one on one time with each parent. There are tons of options.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. Do one or more of these and celebrate Valentine’s day with kids in a super fun and engaging way!

5 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Kids

Make their favorite meal. 

Kids understand from an early age that things we do for people are tied to our love for them. In addition to getting to enjoy their favorite meal, they’ll love that you prepared it for them. Bonus points if you can make it as a surprise without them having to tell you what they’d want or can creatively make it Valentine’s Day themed. I think I might mix some strawberry puree into the pancake batter to tint it pink and shape them like hearts this year!

Bake and decorate cookies.

Make some heart shaped cookies, break out the sprinkles and frosting and go crazy. It’s fun, it’s a tasty treat, and you’ll get to have some quality time to talk to them. That’s priceless.

Do a craft project. 

I love a good craft project and most kids do to. One great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids is to pick out a project together to do. Take a trip to your local craft store and let them pick out something they can make for their room or the house. You get something to make to and make it for them!

Visit the park and go for ice cream.

What can be better than a fun trip to the park followed by an ice cream treat? 

Do something they want to do.

I can’t think of anything that makes a kid feel more special than being asked what THEY want to do. They live in an adults world, doing what adults ask them to do. Rarely do they get to decide 100% what they want to do with their time AND have us do it to. Offer up some suggestions, tell them you’ll do whatever they want with them (within reason of course) and let them run wild. You might end up doing some weird, silly stuff, but it’ll be a memory you’ll both always have. Nothing beats that.

It doesn’t matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids, as long as you do.

Whatever you do to celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids this year, make it memorable. The time passes quickly. Spend some quality time together. Start a new tradition. Most importantly, make some real, lasting memories. They’ll never be this age again. Enjoy every moment of it and fulfill the opportunity to show them how much you love them on Valentine’s Day.

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids? Share your ideas below!

-To your Better Life-

Kira