{"id":26319,"date":"2021-01-28T09:07:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T14:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=26319"},"modified":"2021-01-29T11:59:47","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T16:59:47","slug":"celebrate-valentines-day-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/celebrate-valentines-day-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Fun, Easy Ways to Celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day with Your Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Don’t let the pandemic put a damper on your festivities. Here are some fun, easy ways to celebrate Valentine’s day with your kids and show everyone the love!<\/p><\/div>\n

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be putting a crimp in your special Valentine\u2019s Day plans. Restaurants and bars may be closed or have limited capacity. Performance venues like theatres and concert halls remain closed. As far as a date night goes, there may not be much to do outside of the house for parents this year. But that does not mean you cannot have fun or skip a romantic date night once the kids are in bed<\/a>. It may be a little different this year but here are some ideas on how to celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day with your kids.<\/p>\n

1. Prepare a special Valentine\u2019s Day dinner<\/h2>\n

Make your pizza? Fondue party? Heart-shaped pancakes<\/a>, waffle bar<\/a>, or French toast with fruit? Order out? Whatever you decide, just make it fun. Serve strawberry milk with dinner to add something sweet and pink to the meal. Decorate the table with foam hearts or other festive items.<\/p>\n

For dessert, how about heart-shaped sugar cookies or donuts? Let your kids top them with pink frosting and as many sprinkles as can fit. Or these recipes for Valentine\u2019s White Chocolate Popcorn<\/a>, Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts<\/a>, or M&M Heart Shaped Valentine Rice Krispie Treats<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pancakes, waffles, and French toast can also make for a fun breakfast if dinner is not in your plans. A heart-shaped cookie cutter can turn regular toast into a Valentine\u2019s Day treat with strawberry jam.<\/p>\n

2. Enjoy a family movie<\/h2>\n

Why not watch a movie with those treats? Some family movie ideas that may be appropriate for the occasion include \u201cA Charlie Brown Valentine,\u201d \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d \u201cEver After,\u201d \u201cWinnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You,\u201d and \u201cLady and the Tramp.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Host a tea party<\/h2>\n

Get fancy on Valentine\u2019s Day and host an afternoon tea with, of course, some sweets. Serve pink lemonade and strawberry cream cheese or jam on finger sandwiches to add some festive color. Some other \u201cred snacks\u201d that are also healthy (bonus!)\u00a0 include strawberries, apples, watermelon, raspberries, dried cranberries, red grapes, red peppers, and cherry tomatoes. Everyone could dress up and should use their best manners!<\/p>\n

4. Put on a dance party<\/h2>\n

If tea is not your thing, then turn your living room into a dance floor and crank up the kids\u2019 favorite tunes. Dance, dance, and dance some more until they burn off all the sugar from any sweets.<\/p>\n

5. Take a walk<\/h2>\n

Another way to shed some energy is to take a family walk. It can be around your neighborhood or find a park or nature preserve. To make it even more fun, have a contest to find the most objects that are heart-shaped or colored red or pink.<\/p>\n

6. Give a small, inexpensive gift<\/h2>\n

A Valentine\u2019s Day gift should not be extravagant. A new game, book, box of crayons and construction paper, or puzzle can do the job. Or something fun to wear for school.<\/p>\n

Our favorite love-themed books for children include \u201cGuess How Much I Love You,\u201d \u201cI Love You Always and Forever,\u201d \u201cThe Kissing Hand,\u201d \u201cI Love You Stinky Face,\u201d \u201cSnuggle Puppy,\u201d \u201cMama, Do You Love Me?,\u201d \u201cNever Too Little to Love,\u201d \u201cLove is You and Me,\u201d \u201cLlama Llama I Love You,\u201d \u201cWherever You Are: My Love Will Find You,\u201d \u201cHuggy Kissy,\u201d \u201cI Would Tuck You In,\u201d \u201cDinosaur Kisses,\u201d and \u201cHappy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!\u201d<\/p>\n

7. Find a service or volunteer project<\/h2>\n

The pandemic may limit your opportunities for service projects or volunteering so call ahead to find out what is possible for your family. You could check out food banks<\/a>, senior care facilities, animal shelters, children\u2019s hospitals, and homeless shelters in your area. Places of worship may also have ways you can assist those in need. Or consider sponsoring a child<\/a> from a different part of the world and other ways to help underprivileged children. What better way to celebrate a day of love than showing some to those less fortunate. During this pandemic, it may be nice to see what you can do for your local first responders like firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and health care workers. Maybe they would accept homemade cards or treats.<\/p>\n

8. Make it a Yes Day<\/h2>\n

Remove \u201cno\u201d from your vocabulary \u2013 within reason, of course \u2013 and let your kids choose how to celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day. They can wear want they want. Do what they want. Eat whatever and whenever they want. It could be their best day ever!<\/p>\n

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