Celebrate love this February with these fun family Valentine’s Day ideas.
Even though Valentine’s Day is marketed as a romantic holiday for couples, it’s an excellent opportunity for you to spend time with your family and let each other know how much you care.
I think that now, more than ever, it’s important to share love and affection with those who mean the most to you, whenever you get the chance.
So, if you’re searching for cute Valentine’s Day ideas that are fun for kids of all ages, I’ve put together a list of activities that everyone can appreciate. Because, every day is an opportunity to make memories and spread the love.
Most of these family Valentine’s Day ideas are easy on your budget and require very few extra materials or preparation. So all you need to do is just relax, have fun, and enjoy the extra laughter and smiles.
Fun Valentine’s Day Ideas
for the Whole Family
1) Make Family Valentine’s Day Boxes
Do you remember how much fun it was to make Valentine’s Day boxes to take to elementary school? (I always tried to put as much glitter and tissue paper as possible on mine)!
Making boxes together as a family is a budget-friendly activity that everyone can participate in.
Use pink, red, and white tissue paper or paint to decorate old shoeboxes (or those Amazon boxes you’ve been meaning to recycle).
Each family member can make their own, or you can create one that everyone can put their cards in to exchange on the big day.
2) Exchange Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards
Exchanging homemade Valentine’s Day cards is so much more personal than buying them at the store (sorry, Hallmark).
So this year, get the construction paper, scissors, and glue out of the craft cabinet, and create cards as unique as each member of your family.
Yes, it takes a little extra time to do, but seeing the look on their faces when they receive them makes it so worth it!
3) Try Non-Chocolate Gifts This Year
It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest candy-centered holidays of the year. In fact, over 36 billion heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold during this particular holiday season. And that doesn’t even include conversation hearts!
While a little treat won’t hurt, consider giving your children or spouse a non-chocolate gift this year.
Here are a few non-chocolate Valentine’s Day gift alternatives:
- Books (suggestions listed below)
- Heart-shaped crayons
- A set of Valentine’s Day-themed nail polish
- Strawberries or Oranges
- A kids’ stationery set
- A journal and a new set of pens
4) Have Heart-Felt Conversations
Doesn’t it seem like meaningful social connection is declining these days? Especially with all the increased isolation and distancing. One way to help your children and spouse feel appreciated and “seen” this holiday is through genuine conversation.
I love these Valentine’s Day conversation starters from Minno Kids because they’re perfect for kids and adults of all ages. You can even print them out and put them in a decorated jar to ask during meals or family time.
5) Play Valentines Day Games Together
They say that the family who plays together stays together! How about hosting Valentine’s Day game night if you want to turn up the fun?
You can even play different games leading up to the big day if you have dinner plans with your special someone on the day-of.
Here are a few fun family Valentine’s Day games to try out:
- Valentine’s Day Charades
- Valentine’s Day Bingo
- Hershey Kisses Hunt
- Pin the Heart on the Cupid
- Heart Balloon Relay Race
also see : 14 Heartwarming Valentine’s Day Ideas For the Workplace
6) Create Memories with Valentine’s Day Crafts
Heart-themed crafts are another family Valentine’s Day idea that doesn’t take much prep or planning. And, there are thousands of different activities to be found out there in the world of Pinterest.
I love that most Valentine’s Day crafts are appropriate for a wide range of ages.
I especially like this secret message heart activity that lets you send a hidden message telling what you love most about another family member!
7) Bake Sweet Treats for Others
Are you one of those people who cooks and bakes for the people you love? Does it fill you with joy to share with others and brighten up their day?
This Valentine’s Day, why not involve your whole family with making different sweet treats to give to friends and extended family? The best part is, you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen.
Choose a simple recipe like these cream cheese mint hearts from Crazy Adventures in Parenting. Or some white chocolate fudge hearts from Conserva Mom?
So yummy!
8) Be Examples of Love and Kindness to Others
Showing your family how to spread love and kindness to others is one of the best Valentine’s Day gifts you can give to them.
Volunteer at a local charity together, make care packages for the needy, raise money for a good cause, or even just tip your server extra well. You can also challenge each family member to do one random act of kindness the week of Valentine’s Day and talk to each other about the experience.
9) Make All Your Meals Valentines-Themed
A family Valentine’s Day idea that doesn’t take much time or prep is making all of your meals for the day love-themed.
For example, make heart-shaped pancakes and serve them with whipped topping and strawberries. Cut your kids’ sandwich bread into cute hearts, or pack them strawberry banana smoothies for lunch. You can even make a pizza that’s shaped like a heart!
The possibilities are endlessly delicious.
10) Have a Family Movie Night
Nothing says family fun like putting on your jammies and snuggling up on the couch for a movie night with everyone you love the most. Maybe add some Valentine’s Day popcorn mix as a sweet treat as well.
There are so many wonderfully touching and family-friendly Valentine’s Day movies out there!
Here are a few favorites:
- Enchanted
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Love Bug
- Tangled
- Up
- Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
read next : Valentine’s Day Amazon Gift Guide for Men
11) Snuggle Up for Story Time with Books About Valentine’s Day
Reading stories as a family is an excellent way to spend time together this Valentine’s Day, and there are many heartwarming children’s books out there for young children. Even if you have older children, you can still sit down and read the books they grew up listening to and enjoying when they were younger.
If you’re searching for some engaging titles, here are a few:
- Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney
- The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
- The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll
12) Take Fun Family Photos
Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family is all about making memories, so why not add in some fun, silliness, and a selfie stick or two? It just takes a bit of creativity and a little time to make your own photo booth area in your home.
Hang up brightly colored plastic tablecloths from the dollar store. Cut different-sized hearts out of construction paper and hang them from the ceiling. You can even splurge for a Valentine’s Day-themed selfie frame if you’re really excited about it!
13) Hold an Extended Family Zoom Call
Valentine’s Day is about spending time with those you love. However, it may not be possible for you to gather aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins together in one place.
But don’t let that prevent you from getting together in one space, even if it’s digital.
Instead, invite everyone to an extended family Zoom call on Valentine’s Day to talk and laugh with those who mean the most to you.
14) Have Dinner by Candlelight
Another simple way to make Valentine’s Day special for the whole family is to have dinner by candlelight.
Any parents of small children know that the chances of having a private candlelit dinner are pretty slim, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create that same atmosphere at the dining room table.
Find some smell-good candles you have around the house, light them, and turn off the lights.
Everyone will love the experience!
15) Surprise Each Other with Hearts
I think even the closest families still tend to have those moments where they get on each other’s nerves or lose patience with one another. Sometimes that leads to arguments and taking each other for granted.
So this Valentine’s Day, give everyone in your family several blank paper hearts. Challenge them to write something they love about each family member and hide it where they will find it.
16) Decorate Bedroom Doors
One way to rev up the excitement for Valentine’s Day and create some good-natured competition among family members is to have a door decorating contest.
Each person must cover their bedroom door in love-themed decorations, and then you can choose someone to judge. This could be a friend, grandparent, etc.
Careful, though! The competition could get a little fierce!
Valentine’s Day is such a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your whole family.
I hope these fun and inexpensive ideas inspire you to create your own unique traditions and memories for years to come.
Enjoy friends!
