6 fun (and incredibly easy!) Valentine’s Day activities

By Stacie Gaetz 

My family is not big into celebrating Valentine’s Day but last year, I started a fun tradition for my kids and thought I would share it (and a few other exciting activities).

This is the simplest and sweetest little activity, and it really helps you feel gratitude and appreciate your kiddos no matter what else is going on in your life.

Door Messages

It’s as simple as it sounds. Cut hearts out of construction paper and write the things that you love about your kids on them. Tape one to their door every day from February 1 until Valentine’s Day and watch their faces light up every morning when they are excited to read what they say.

I wrote things like “You are an awesome friend”, “You have a great sense of humor”, “You teach me new things” and “You give wonderful hugs”. I can’t express how great this makes your kids feel about themselves and it allows you to take a moment and be thankful for your incredible children and all they do. Taking part in this and watching my kids’ reactions was my favorite Valentine’s Day gift ever.

Coffee Filter Window Hearts

This one adds a little color to your home and shows your neighbors that you are loving the season.

Cut coffee filters into heart shapes. Cut out any design you would like within the heart (like you would with a snowflake). Paint the hearts with watercolors. Stick them to your windows.

The filters absorb the colors more beautifully than regular paper and the sun with shine through them, giving them almost a stained-glass look.

Valentine’s Day Countdown “Tree”

This one is great because it serves many purposes: it is a fun craft, ongoing countdown, and a decoration. Another bonus: Your kids get to hunt for the perfect stick/branch. What kid doesn’t love that?

Once you have the branch, you can leave it au naturale or you can paint it whatever color your kids want to. When it has dried, put it in a pot (I used some Styrofoam peanuts to hold it up and topped it off with colored, translucent “jewels” like you would see in the bottom of a fishbowl).

Cut some hearts out of construction paper and punch holes in them. You can add them to the “tree” like this or thread some ribbon through the holes. Write your numbers one to 14 on your hearts and let your kids take one off every day. If you want to add a bit of an advent-calendar feel to the activity, let them trade in the heart for a very small treat (like a fun-sized box of Smarties).

Yet another bonus – Now you have a naked tree that is ready to use for a countdown to Easter with paper eggs.

Glitter Rocks

Looking for a small and inexpensive (or even free if you already have the craft materials laying around you house) gift for the grandparents or your kids’ friends this Valentine’s Day? You can’t go wrong with glitter rocks!

Collect some small rocks. Clean them thoroughly. Paint the heart shape with white glue. Sprinkle with glitter and shake off the excess. Feel free to paint the entire rock and let it dry first if you would like to.

Voila – the perfect homemade gift to say “I love you.”

Heart-shaped Candy Lollipops

I will admit that I was sceptical about this one being easy, but it really is. All you need is mini candy canes, chocolate chips and sticks. It’s the perfect way to get rid of all of the mini candy canes you still have around the house from Christmas that no one seems to eat on their own.

Unwrap your mini candy canes and lay them on a cookie sheet with wax paper with the hooked part facing each other (in the shape of a heart). Place a stick in between the area where the two straight parts meet. Melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler or the microwave. Pour the melted chocolate into the heart shape between the candy canes. You can stop here and wait for the chocolate to harden and then enjoy or feel free to add some extras while the chocolate is still warm. These can include anything from M&Ms, to marshmallows, to white chocolate chips, to sprinkles, the possibilities are plentiful.

LOVEly Wreath

Wreaths can be made easily and with very little expense. All you need is a heart-shaped wreath form (either a wire one or a Styrofoam one). These can be purchased affordably at a craft or dollar store. Next decorate it with anything you like that reminds you of Valentine’s Day. Use hot glue to add ribbons, artificial flowers, candy, stickers, paper, pom poms, letters, yarn… you name it. If it is pink, red or heart shaped, it will look great!

Although not everyone “buys into” Valentine’s Day as the one time of year to show how much you love your significant other, it is fun to get in the spirit with some exciting activities for your kids. If nothing else, it doesn’t hurt to take the day and be grateful for and spend some time with all those in your life that you love and those who love you.