Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Family
Valentine’s Day does not have to be just a Holiday for romance, chocolate, flowers and overpriced dinners out. We can celebrate Valentine’s Day with our children as a family in our own ways. This is a great time to teach children about what the true meaning of love is and all the different ways we can love someone. Love within a family means commitment to one another to accept each other for the good traits and the not so good traits. When we love within our family we show support for one another when needed by lifting each other up and celebrating achievements and hard work.
We can teach children that Valentine’s Day is not about us but it is about others. There are some really cool activities that will help with this lesson in love.
Create a Love Door
As a family you can pick a door in the house and each member of the members of the family can write a sticky note conveying what they love about each other and post the notes to the “Love” door. This helps children and adults focus on the positive attributes of one another and helps family members feel loved and appreciated and ultimately brings people together.
Community projects
You can discuss ways to show love in the community and let the children pick a project to do that will benefit someone in the community. Work on the project together and deliver the project as a family. Examples of projects can be cooking a meal for someone, doing yardwork for a single mom or dad in the neighborhood, writing out Valentine’s Day Cards and delivering them to a local senior home or group home.
Love Bingo
Play a fun game of Love Bingo. This Bingo Game is great because while playing and having fun you can discuss the meaning of the words in the bingo game with your child. Make it a yummy treat and instead of using the paper markers to play the game you can get candy hearts instead.
Sensory Bins
Create simple fun sensory bins for your child to explore. You can dye pasta or rice red and pink. Pour pasta in a bag and drop in a little paint. Seal the bag and shake it. Pour colored pasta out and allow to dry over night. Throw in dollar store plastic hearts and small cups and bowls for scooping and pouring. Your child will love exploring this tactile experience.
Baking Together
As a family you can make yummy cookies for desert with each family member having a part in making them. When they are done you can share them with your neighbor and friends.
Read Together
Read with your child a great Valentine book like Llama Llama I love you , Happy Valentines Day Curious George or My Fuzzy Valentine Day by Elmo.
Whatever you and your family choose to do, focus and enjoy the time that you are blessed to spend with one another.