15 Cute and Easy Valentine’s Day Traditions for Kids
Before having children, Valentine’s Day is often considered a day when you put in extra effort to show your spouse or partner how much you love and appreciate them. The cool thing is that Valentine’s Day can become even more fun after having children, especially when you incorporate some easy Valentine’s Day traditions for kids!
Growing up, my parents always surprised us kids with a little token to wake up to, whether it was a card, some chocolates, or a small stuffed animal. I always loved these little surprises and looked forward to them as Valentine’s Day drew closer.
After starting my own family, I knew I wanted to find easy ways to make each holiday exciting and fun. That’s why I love holiday traditions so much.
Traditions are excellent to start with your family because those memories will be what your kiddos remember most. Then, as any holiday approaches, your kids will get excited when they remember the fun things that your family always does together.
Let’s get started!
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1. Make Valentine’s Cards
One of the most creative Valentine’s Day traditions for kids is making cards for family members (and friends!). Gather around the table with colorful paper, glitter, stickers, markers, and scissors, and let the creativity flow!
Once you have ideas for the cards, you can get to work. Start by cutting out hearts, writing messages, and decorating the cards with stickers, ribbons, and anything else you need.
When you finish, you can exchange the cards with each other and read the heartfelt messages inside. It’s a moment of pure joy and happiness that will bring you closer together.
Making Valentine’s Day cards is a simple but powerful tradition. It reminds us that love comes in many forms and that expressing it through a simple card can mean the world to someone.
2. Create Valentine’s Mailboxes
Making Valentine’s mailboxes with kids is a fun and creative activity that encourages children to use their imagination and create something unique.
You will need basic supplies such as construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, and a cardboard box, like a shoebox or cereal box, to get started. You can also use other materials, such as stickers, glitter, and ribbons, to add extra flair to the mailboxes.
Start by covering the box with construction paper or butcher paper. Once the mailbox is assembled, kids can decorate it however they like. They can use markers to draw hearts, write messages, or add other decorations. They can also use stickers or glitter to add sparkle to the mailbox.
After completing the mailbox, encourage kids to share their Valentine’s Day cards with friends and family. They can use the mailbox to collect their classmates’ cards or deliver special messages to loved ones.
3. Fondue Dinner
Now we know Valentine’s Day is not just for couples; it’s also a fun and memorable occasion for families. One exciting Valentine’s Day tradition for kids is to have a fondue dinner.
Fondue dinners are a great way to get the whole family involved in the cooking process. (This is a great fondue pot if you don’t already have one!)
You can make it more exciting by using different types of fondue, such as cheese, chocolate, or even both. Kids will love dipping their favorite foods in the warm and gooey dips.
To make the evening even more memorable, you can set the table with Valentine’s Day decorations, such as heart-shaped plates, pink and red napkins, and candles.
Having a fondue dinner with your kids is a fun and unique way to celebrate this special day and create memories that will last a lifetime.
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4. Make Treats Together
Making festive treats is one of the more delicious Valentine’s Day traditions for kids. Heart-shaped cookies are one of the most popular Valentine’s Day treats to make with children.
With a simple sugar cookie recipe and a heart-shaped cookie cutter, kids can help roll out the dough, cut the cookies, and decorate them with frosting and sprinkles.
Another sweet treat that kids can make for Valentine’s Day is chocolate-covered strawberries. This simple and delicious treat involves dipping fresh strawberries in melted chocolate and cooling them on a tray. Kids can help wash and dry the strawberries, dip them in the chocolate, and add sprinkles or other decorations to make them extra special.
If you want to add a salty twist to your Valentine’s Day treats, you can make chocolate-covered pretzels with the kids. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (or microwave), dip pretzels in the chocolate, and lay them on a tray to cool. Kids can help dip the pretzels, add sprinkles, and arrange them on the tray.
Overall, making Valentine’s Day treats with kids is a great way to spend quality time together while creating something delicious and fun.
5. Package Treats for Family, Friends, or Neighbors
If you chose to make some Valentine’s Day treats, like in the tradition above, why not package some up to surprise family and friends? With a little bit of love and creativity, you can take the delicious Valentine’s treats and package them up to make your loved ones feel extra special.
You can decorate simple, clear bags or boxes with festive ribbons and tags. Alternatively, you can create your own packaging using materials like paper cups or mason jars.
When giving out your treats, think about how you want to present them. You could leave them on your loved ones’ doorsteps as a surprise or hand-deliver them with a personal note or card. Either way, your loved ones will know how much you care for them and how grateful you are to have them in your life.
6. Do a Kindness Challenge
Trying out a kindness challenge is one of the more meaningful Valentine’s Day traditions for kids. It is also a great way to teach kids about spreading love and kindness in our community.
When starting a kindness challenge, you’ll want to decide whether to do a 14-day or a month-long challenge. Then, you’ll want to come up with the kind acts to include in your challenge.
If you need help with this tradition, check out this printable kindness challenge bundle! It comes with 30 days of kind acts already planned, a blank page to create your own challenge, and a tracker to monitor your progress.
Overall, the kindness challenge is a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day while teaching my kids the importance of kindness and giving back.
7. Dress in Red or Pink
One of the most classic Valentine’s Day traditions for kids is to dress up in red or pink, the colors of love. Whether planning a family dinner, a movie night, or a fun game, adding red or pink to your outfit can make the occasion even more festive.
Dressing up in red or pink can be a fun way for kids to get excited for Valentine’s Day. You can encourage them to wear their favorite red or pink outfit. Or you can also get creative and make Valentine’s Day-themed accessories, such as heart-shaped hair clips, pink ribbons, or red and pink bracelets.
8. Love Door
Our next Valentine’s Day tradition for kids is to make a “Love Door. “The Love Door ” is one of my favorites because it shows your kids how much you love and appreciate them in a way they will remember forever.
For this tradition, you’ll need some red/pink/purple construction paper, tape, and markers. First, you’ll cut out hearts from the construction paper, write the things you love about your children on the hearts, and tape them on their bedroom doors.
When your kids wake up in the morning, they will see the colorful hearts with heartfelt messages on them! And don’t think this tradition is only for kids who can read. Even toddlers will love this special gesture.
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9. Have a Movie Night
Another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids is by having a movie night. You can choose a family-friendly romantic comedy or an animated movie with a Valentine’s Day/love theme.
To get you started with some movie ideas, here are some of our favorites:
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Princess and the Frog
- Cinderella
- Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
- Tangled
- The Parent Trap
You can also prepare some delicious snacks and treats like popcorn, candies, or heart-shaped cookies to enjoy throughout the movie. And to make the night even more exciting, you can set up a cozy atmosphere with blankets, pillows, and dim lighting.
10. Have a Game Night
If games are more exciting for your family, have a family game night to celebrate the holiday!
Gather everyone together and choose some games that everyone can play, regardless of age. Whatever you choose, ensure you have snacks and drinks to keep the energy up.
To get you started with some game ideas, here are some of our favorite games for families:
- Valentine’s Day Bingo
- Monopoly (or Monopoly Junior)
- Candy Land
- Trouble
- Card Games – Like Old Maid or Go Fish
By having a game night, you’ll create lasting memories and have a great time with your family on Valentine’s Day.
11. Do Valentine’s Themed Crafts and Activities
Engaging in fun crafts and activities can be a great way to spend quality time with your children and celebrate the holiday. Plus, you’ll have adorable keepsakes when your kids finish their crafts!
Thinking of holiday-specific crafts can be difficult, but not when you have this Valentine’s Day activities list for kids! There, you’ll find many easy and fun crafts and activities that all kids, even toddlers, will love doing.
12. Read Valentine’s Day Books
Reading books about Valentine’s Day can be a great addition to your child’s day, whether just a bedtime book or multiple books throughout the day. Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day books:
- Little Blue Truck’s Valentine
- Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!
- Love From the Very Hungry Caterpillar
- I Love You Like No Otter
- Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool
- How to Catch a Loveosaurus
13. Balloons Everywhere
If you’ve read my post on birthday traditions, you know we love hiding balloons in the house to create a fun surprise. Valentine’s Day can be another great holiday to hide balloons on!
Some fun places to hide balloons for kids can be on their bedroom floor while they’re sleeping, in the bathroom or their closet, or even in kitchen cupboards!
If you’re interested in doing this tradition, ensure you have a balloon pump like this one! It will save you so much time and energy when blowing up balloons.
14. Valentine’s Gift Baskets
Making small gift baskets for kids is a fun and thoughtful Valentine’s Day tradition. You can include small toys, candy, stickers, and other little surprises your child will love.
The great thing about gift baskets is that kids will love anything you put in them, and they don’t have to be extravagant! This year, I got my kids a small stuffed animal, stickers, a coloring book, and a small chocolate candy. There is no need to break the bank on Valentine’s Day gifts!
15. Have a Cute Photoshoot
Our last fun Valentine’s Day tradition for kids is to have a holiday photoshoot with your little ones. You can dress them up in cute outfits, grab some heart-shaped props, and snap adorable pictures together.
Whether you’re taking photos indoors or outdoors, the key is to have fun and be creative. Your kids will love posing for the camera, and you’ll have some beautiful photos to cherish for years to come.
And there you have it: the best Valentine’s Day Traditions for kids! From dressing up in festive outfits to celebrating with sweet treats or sentimental cards, I hope you’ve found traditions that your family will cherish.
Before you go, check out these related articles:
- Easy St. Patrick’s Day Crafts and Activities for Kids
- Non-Candy Easter Egg Filler Ideas for Kids
- What to Put in Baby’s First Easter Basket
- The Best Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers
- Cute Ways to Celebrate Baby’s First Easter
What was one of your favorite Valentine’s Day traditions for kids? I would love to know in the comments below!
