Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate love, kindness and connection with your family. This year, plan activities that teach children about the importance of quality time, compassion and gratitude for others. From creative crafts to outdoor adventures, these 10 unique activities that focus on love and kindness are for the whole family.
1. COOK TOGETHER. Cooking a valentine-themed meal together is a wonderful way to bond while creating delicious memories. Start with a festive menu of themed dishes such as heart-shaped pizzas or meat pies, a charcuterie board of sweet and savory snacks or strawberry Nutella pancakes. Make the meal extra special by setting the table with red and pink decorations. Encourage creativity by letting everyone decorate treats with sprinkles, frosting or edible glitter. Laughter and teamwork will make the day as sweet as the food prepared.
2. THROW A DANCE PARTY. A dance party is a joyful way to celebrate! Find a playlist of upbeat, love-themed songs and have a party in the living room. Decorate with balloons, streamers, and string lights to create a festive atmosphere. Listen to feel-good tunes and encourage everyone to dress in Valentine’s attire.
3. CRAFT WITH LOVE. Take time to create something meaningful together. Craft handmade Valentine’s Day cards for each other, create heart decorations, design a family “love jar” filled with notes of appreciation for each other, or make and send a hug to long-distance relatives so they know they are missed. These projects strengthen family bonds and create keepsakes to cherish.
4. GO ON A NATURE WALK. Put a Valentine’s Day spin on a nature walk. Head to a local park, trail or garden and bring a checklist for a “heart hunt,” where everyone searches for heart-shaped objects in nature, such as rocks, leaves or clouds. Fresh air, creativity and quality time together will make it a memorable and meaningful Valentine’s Day adventure.
Download our traditional Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/out-about/nature-scavenger-hunt-for-kids.
5. COMMIT RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS. Random Acts of Kindness Day is Feb. 17, so aim to inspire compassion and positivity as small acts of love often make a big impact. Show kids that doing something nice for others makes them feel good, too. Bake heart-shaped cookies for neighbors, encourage kids to compliment each other, and donate unused toys to another family who may enjoy them.
For more ideas, read our article “41 Random Acts of Kindness: How to Make the World a Better Place.”
6. HAVE A STORYTELLING NIGHT. A valentine-themed storytelling night is a cozy and heartfelt way to connect as a family. Set the mood by dimming the lights, lighting candles (or using battery-operated candles) and laying out comfy blankets and pillows. Gather everyone and take turns sharing stories about kindness and friendship through memories or favorite books. For a creative twist, encourage kids to invent their own stories featuring characters they love.
7. PLAN A FAMILY MOVIE MARATHON. Make Valentine’s Day (or the day after) a family movie day and spend quality time with loved ones at home. Prepare a lineup of heartwarming movies, such as The Aristocats, Beauty and the Beast, Vivo, The Parent Trap, Lady and the Tramp, Little Rascals and The Princess and the Frog. Set up a popcorn bar with sweet and salty toppings and offer hot chocolate. Get comfortable and snuggle up!
8. SET UP A FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT. Create a backdrop of heart-shaped decorations on a wall or load the couch with cozy, festive pillows and pile everyone on for a snuggly shot. For extra charm, take candid photos of everyone laughing or reading a story together. These sweet photos will serve as fun memories in the years to come.
9. PAINT KINDNESS ROCKS. Start by collecting smooth rocks and gathering acrylic paints, markers or paint pens to decorate with. Paint or draw hearts and uplifting messages such as “Be kind” or “You rock!” Once the paint dries, place the rocks around your neighborhood or a local park to brighten someone’s day.
10. CREATE AN “I LOVE ME” COLLAGE. Print out or draw a picture of your child and place it on a poster. Have them decorate around their picture with glitter, hearts and reasons why they love themselves. Suggest using phrases like, “I’m strong,” “I like to try new things,” “I’m a good friend,” and “I am brave.” This fun and empowering craft boosts self-esteem; display it somewhere kids will see often.
Amanda Cavallari is a lifestyle writer residing in San Diego.
Check out our Valentine’s Day Round-Up for free printable Valentine’s Day cards, instructions for a beautiful heart mural, and to get recipes for treats like easy Oreo truffles, strawberry hand pies, brownie hearts and more.
