Fun and Creative Valentine’s Day Activities for the Kids
Unbelievably, we are already in the second month of the new year, even though Christmas feels like it was just last week. Despite the unreasonable speed at which time flies, I always look forward to February, especially Valentine’s Day. I feel like Valentine’s Day has gotten a bad rep over the decades because it has mostly been associated with people in romantic relationships. In recent years, however, it seems like Valentine’s Day is becoming more associated with people you love in general. Last year, my three best friends and I had a “Galentine’s Day” night out. It entailed going to downtown Mount Dora and hitting as many bars as we could before midnight, plus little Valentine’s-themed gifts, of course.
My daughter was too little last year to fully understand and enjoy the Valentine’s Day festivities but this year, we’re planning on making it a fun one. After all, how can I pass up an opportunity to give her cute gifts and do artsy, fun things with her?
Here are some Valentine’s-themed ideas that I either want to do now with my toddler or we will do when she gets a little older:
Craft homemade Valentine’s cards. One of the easiest and most meaningful ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids is by crafting homemade cards. This is a perfect activity for toddlers, young children, and older kids with creative personalities. The best part is that it doesn’t require a lot of materials or preparation, yet it offers a way for your children to express their love and appreciation for family and friends. If you and your child are making Valentine’s Day cards for their classmates, be sure to make a card for everyone in the classroom. No one wants to be that one kid who didn’t get any cards because they’re a little weird.
Materials needed:
Construction paper or index cards
Markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils
Stickers, stamps, and other embellishments
Glitter, glue, and ribbon
Scissors
How to do it:
Have your kids fold a piece of construction paper in half to create the card base.
Let them decorate the front with their designs using markers, stickers, or glitter. They can draw hearts, and flowers, or even write a special message.
Inside, encourage your kids to write or draw something personal, like "I love you!" or "You’re the best!" for the recipient.
Add any extra flair with ribbons or glitter for a festive touch.
Bake Valentine’s Day treats. I love baking as a bonding experience with family and/or friends. Whether we’re baking cookies, cupcakes, or a cake, this activity is a favorite for our family. The kitchen becomes a space for creativity, laughter, and delicious results.
Popular Valentine’s Day treats:
Heart-shaped cookies: You can use cookie cutters to create heart-shaped treats and then decorate them with icing and sprinkles.
Chocolate-dipped strawberries: A fun and easy option that kids will love. Dip strawberries in melted chocolate, let them cool, and then decorate with colorful sprinkles.
Valentine’s Day cupcakes: Bake cupcakes, and let the kids decorate them with pink, red, and white frosting, topped with heart-shaped candies or sprinkles.
How to do it:
Gather your ingredients and involve your kids in each step, from mixing the dough to rolling out cookie shapes.
Once the treats are baked and cooled, give your children the freedom to decorate them with icing, candy, or sprinkles.
Share the finished goodies with family and friends, or enjoy them during a Valentine’s Day dinner together.
*Always be aware of any potential allergies if you’re going to be sharing your baked treats with anyone outside of your family.
Host a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts are a great way to get your kids moving, thinking, and having fun all while exploring the house or even your backyard. Organize a Valentine’s Day-themed scavenger hunt with clues that lead to small surprises or treats. This activity is excellent for kids of all ages, and you can adapt the difficulty based on their age level.
How to do it:
Prepare a series of clues or riddles related to Valentine’s Day. For example, "Look under the table where we eat to find a surprise that’s sweet!" or "The next clue is where your shoes are kept."
At each location, hide a small prize, such as a Valentine’s Day treat, a small toy, or a special note.
For younger kids, you can include visual clues or use Valentine-themed symbols like hearts or cupids.
If you want to take it a step further, you can create a final grand prize, such as a Valentine’s Day gift or a family activity like a movie night or game night to conclude the hunt.
Create a Valentine’s Day sensory bin. For younger kids or toddlers, a Valentine’s Day sensory bin can provide hours of fun and learning. Sensory play helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory awareness. You can fill a bin with various Valentine-themed objects, including textured materials, colors, and shapes.
Materials needed:
Red and pink rice or pasta (you can dye rice or pasta yourself with food coloring)
Heart-shaped beads or buttons
Small toys or figurines
Red, pink, and white foam shapes
Glitter
How to do it:
Fill a plastic bin or tray with the sensory materials. You can mix in rice, pasta, or even fabric pieces, ensuring the colors match the Valentine’s Day theme.
Add some small Valentine’s-themed objects like foam hearts, tiny plush toys, or figurines.
Encourage your child to explore the sensory bin with their hands, sorting the objects, making patterns, or simply feeling the textures.
This simple activity promotes creativity and exploration while keeping your child engaged for a while.
Make a Valentine’s Day love tree. If you don’t mind being a little cringey, a Valentine’s Day “love tree” is a great way to get kids thinking about love, kindness, and gratitude. You can create a “love tree” where each family member writes down something they love or appreciate about each other and then hangs it on the tree. This activity fosters a positive atmosphere and allows everyone to share their thoughts and feelings in a fun way. There’s no way our teenager would be willing to participate in this, but I think Bebe will love it when she’s 4 or 5.
Materials needed:
Construction paper or cardstock
Markers or pens
Scissors
Tape or string
A branch or tree-like structure (real or made from craft materials)
How to do it:
Set up a “tree” by placing a branch in a vase or drawing one on a piece of paper.
Cut out small hearts or tags from paper.
Have each family member write or draw something they love on their heart-shaped paper, such as “I love family time” or “I love my sister.”
Hang the hearts on the tree using tape, string, or a glue stick.
The result is a beautiful, meaningful display of love and gratitude, perfect for the occasion.
Have a Valentine’s Day-themed movie night. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with kids than with a cozy movie night? There are plenty of family-friendly movies that highlight themes of love, friendship, and kindness, making them perfect for the occasion. Set up a cozy space with blankets and pillows, make some snacks, and enjoy a heartwarming movie together.
Movie suggestions:
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is my personal number 1 choice for a movie night with the kids. It’s such a cute and endearing movie. Our toddler loves it because it’s so colorful.
“Lady and the Tramp” – A classic Disney movie about two dogs who fall in love.
“Frozen” – A tale of sisterly love and adventure.
“The Lego Movie” – A heartwarming story about friendship and teamwork.
Prepare a few snacks, such as popcorn, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or cupcakes from your earlier baking session.
Pick out your favorite Valentine’s Day-themed movie and set up a cozy spot for everyone to relax.
Enjoy the movie together, talking about the themes of love and kindness as you go.
This activity is an excellent way to unwind after a day full of crafting, baking, and playing. Plus, it’s the perfect way to wrap up a day spent celebrating the love you share with your kids.
Volunteer or do a kindness project. Valentine’s Day is all about spreading love, and one of the best ways to do that is by teaching your kids the importance of kindness and giving back to others. Spend the day volunteering as a family or do a kindness project together. This could involve donating food to a local shelter, sending Valentine’s Day cards to elderly residents at a nursing home, or making homemade treats for neighbors.
How to do it:
Research local volunteer opportunities, such as serving at a community kitchen or helping to organize donations at a food bank.
Alternatively, gather supplies for a DIY kindness project, like writing notes or assembling care packages.
Engage your kids in the process by allowing them to help with preparation, organizing, and delivering the items.
Not only will your kids learn the value of giving back, but they will also feel a sense of pride knowing that their efforts helped make someone else’s day brighter. The beauty of giving is so important to learn early in life.
XOXO, Alexis.