Valentine's Day Activities for Families with Children

Valentine's Day does not just have to be for lovers. It's a great time to show everyone in your family how much you love them, especially your children. While others are out packing restaurants to the brim, you can enjoy quality time with your kids doing all kinds of fun Valentine's Day activities.

Making Valentine's Day crafts and cards is only part of the fun of Valentine's Day. Instead of giving Valentines only to each other, teach children about the spirit of giving by hosting activities that benefit others. Have the kids give their Valentines to residents of a local retirement home, for example. The elderly are lonely for much of the year and they would be touched to have children visit them bearing Valentines. You could also make a trip around your neighborhood, leaving handmade Valentines on doors for your neighbors to find.

Valentine's Day is famous for its candy and treats. Spend part of the day with your kids baking heart-shaped cookies and decorating them with pink, red, and white frosting. There are also many different types of chocolate candies that your kids can help make and decorate.

Play a Valentine's Day game. The "what am I?" game is fun to play and can be tailored to fit Valentine's Day. Each participant has a special Valentine's Day item written on a piece of paper and taped to his or her back. No one should know what is on his back. Each person has to guess by asking questions. You can only ask one question from each person before you have to guess. The person who guesses correctly with the fewest number of questions is the winner.

For example: a person might have the word "candy heart" taped to their back. Their questions might go something like: "what color am I? (can be lots of different colors)," "can you eat me? (yes)," or "am I small or large? (small)."

A "family date" is a fun idea. Get all of the family together and go out to see a movie. Even family themed movies have romance in them. On the bright side, the movie theater is not likely to be busy if it is a weekend because most couples stay at home or go to restaurants for a Valentine's Day dinner.

Making or buying Valentine's Day presents for each other is also a fun activity. Arts and crafts are a great way to keep kids busy and spend time with family. Buying gifts for your children on Valentine's Day is also a nice tradition. I remember when I was little, my father would bring home a tiny heart-shaped box of chocolates for my brother and I each Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day may be popular for lovers, but it is also a great time to show those you care about how much you love them. Even if you are planning on doing something with your significant other this Valentine's Day, don't forget to spend time with your kids as a family as well.