How to Involve Your Children in Your Valentine's Day Celebration

Valentine's Day gains a whole new dimension when you have little ones on board. While you are already showing your children how much you love them daily, it can be fun to add in the extra attention on Valentine’s Day. However, with the various offerings of candy and expensive gifts, it can be a challenge to celebrate the holiday in a healthy and cost-effective way. Thankfully, there are some great ideas of what you could purchase as gifts, or fun activities you could do together.Gift Ideas:1. Healthy/homemade treats. Valentine's Day usually means tons and tons of chocolate. But all that sugar is not going to do your kids any favors. Plus, making treats together can be a fun activity, allowing you to work together as a family with a tasty reward at the end! Try some of these healthy dessert recipes: avocado-chocolate pie, banana-chocolate-chip muffins, or sweet zucchini bread.2. Small toys or trinkets. Obviously, you don't want your kids to start expecting lots of presents on Valentine's Day, but it is nice to offer a small gift to your children. These can be as inexpensive as finger puppets, stickers or bouncy balls. Just be sure that the toy you choose is appropriate for your child’s age to avoid any unnecessary health and safety risks.3. "I love you" notes. Even at a young age, children will appreciate getting cards or notes. Choose or create age appropriate card that lets your children know not just that you love them, but why you love them. They are also fun to collect over the years, providing a way to reflect on memories as they grow up.Activity Ideas:  1. Decorate the house. It is time to celebrate! Simply putting up decorations will make it feel like a party to your little ones. Let your kids help you (or think they are helping you) put up streamers, blow up red and pink balloons, light candles, and put up other festive decorations.2. Do arts and crafts. Valentine’s Day is a great time for you and your child to spend some bonding time doing arts and crafts. Work with them to cut hearts out of paper, trace their hands and write "I love you", create special Valentine’s cards for loved ones, and more. The final products can be kept as mementos, or can be given as gifts for friends, parents, or grandparents.3. Make flowers out of pipe cleaners. Sending loved ones flowers is a Valentine's Day tradition. So why not make some that will last a lifetime? Pipe cleaners are easy for children to get the hang of and can provide hours of fun! See if you can make a whole bouquet and then pass them out to people who need a pick-me-up.  Make Valentine's Day a day to shower love on your little ones! They will remember the fun for the rest of their lives, enjoying new traditions you create together. Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about your child's health and wellbeing during the holiday or any time of year. Have a happy Valentine's Day!