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Five Ways to Have a Family Friendly Valentine's Day
By Sarah Lindstrom
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Valentine's Day is traditionally a day for people in love; however, it can be pressure on those in relationships to come up with grand gestures and treat their significant others to expensive meals. It doesn't have to be this way, though. Take Valentine's Day back from the card and chocolate companies! Make it about the love of your family. This will be my first Valentine's Day as a Mom and I have never felt more love in my heart and wanted to share it more.
Here are a few fun ideas to make Valentine's Day fun for the entire family:
1. Plan a scavenger hunt centered around things your family loves. Get a heart shaped box and fill it with special treats and small gifts and hide it somewhere that is universally loved by the family. Create clues that will lead your children to things that your family loves to do individually or as a family. Your daughter's piano, Dad's easy chair, the table you eat at as a family, your son's matchbox cars - if you have more than one child, they will have to work together and they will be reminded of the things you all love to do. Plus, they will be rewarded with a special surprise at the end - that they will have to share, of course.
2. Write valentines to each family member. Sit your kids down and help them write a short note to each other about what they love about the other. Sibling relationships can sometimes be very strained and it wouldn't hurt to remember all the good things every once in a while. Help them create a list of a few things they love. It could be as simple as "I love you when you help me with my homework" or "I love you when you let me play with your toys" to "I love you because I know you'll always be there for me." Too often we take each other for granted and being reminded of these wonderful things more often wouldn't hurt. You and your husband should do the same for each other. Everyone needs to be told they are loved.
3. Bake a special Valentine's Day dessert with each other. Depending on ability level, assign a task to each child. Everyone will contribute and work together and they will be so proud of themselves when the dessert is presented after dinner knowing they had a hand in it. Some of my favorites include cut-out cookies (each child can decorate a special one for other members of the family), brownies or a cake with pink or red frosting or sprinkles or jell-o shapes (a perfect quick dessert and a hit with even picky eaters).
4. Don't forget the pets! If you have a pet, you know how much they are a part of your family. They love us unconditionally, regardless of how often they're left alone or how late their dinner is. They deserve a Valentine's Day too! Help your kids get treats together for them too: a bone for Rover, catnip for Muffin or an extra carrot for Flopsy. Teach your kids that everyone deserves love and attention.
5. Give back. You're surrounded by love and you have a wonderful family. For you, everyday could be Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, there are so many people who are not as lucky. Depending on the age of your children, find ways that you can all give back and help others less fortunate. You can volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, donate old winter coats to those who can't afford them or hold a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a charity the family agrees on. You can also drop care packages off at hospitals. There are so many families spending holiday after holiday in the hospital. They have a newborn in the NICU or an older child is sick. My son was in the NICU over Thanksgiving and local school children made little styrofoam turkeys that were dropped off. It was little, but it showed that they cared and were thinking about us. Different hospitals have different rules so you might want to check first, but gather treats for the children's wing or NICU at a local hospital. Even if food can't be accepted, books, puzzles or other games to help pass the time would be so appreciated. You can take the opportunity to teach your children to be grateful for all they have and the wonderful feeling that comes with making someone's day brighter.
Valentine's Day doesn't have to just be for couples. It's a day about love and love can manifest itself in a variety of different ways. Celebrate each other and take the time to appreciate what your family means to you. Maybe you can start traditions and open up ways of communicating that will make more days like Valentine's Day.
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