Valentine’s Day is a holiday to celebrate love. It usually brings to mind hearts, candy, and flowers. How can you celebrate the day as a family, without breaking the bank? Below are five fun and interactive activities that are easy to do and that will help you celebrate the holiday of love with the people you love!
L-O-V-E Spells Y-O-U
Have your child pick the name of someone they love and write that name vertically along the left side of a piece of paper. Then have them write a word or a phrase about something they like about that person, starting with each letter of the name. For example, the first A in Adam could read, “Always plays catch with me.” It’s a great way to have your kids think about what they like about their friends and family, and afterward, they have a sweet gift to give to that person.
Heart Maker Contest
This is a fun game for two or more people to play. Print an identical outline of a heart on a piece of paper for each player. Have everyone study the heart, then hold it behind their back. Now, without looking, each player tries to tear the heart out along the outline without looking. Whoever tears the best-looking heart wins. But remember, no peeking!
“Linked by Love” Paper Chains
What better way to show how love links us all together than with the links of a decorative chain? Cut pink, red, and white construction paper into long strips. Lay one strip on top of another and use a glue stick or stapler to connect the bottoms of each. Now, bend the tops of the two strips over, so you can glue or staple their outsides together. The two strips should now make a heart shape. Each heart you make after that just has to be threaded through another before you seal the tops of the strips. Now you have an easy, festive chain to use as a decoration for your Valentine’s Day celebration!
“Forget Me Not” Memory Game
Cut heart shapes out of construction paper. Write a famous word pair on each half of the heart (ex: “Sugar/Spice,” “Peanut Butter/Jelly,” “Music/Dancing,” etc.). Cut each heart in half, so that one word is on each piece. Turn all the half-hearts face down, mix them up, and spread them out evenly. Now you have everything you need for a classic game of Memory. Taking turns, each player flips two half-hearts over to see if they go together. If they don’t, they get turned back face down in the same spots. If they match, the player gets to keep the full heart. The player with the most restored hearts at the end wins!
Sweet Jewelry
Make edible jewelry that’s both fun and delicious! For each person, tape the end of a piece of thin elastic to a table. Then use various candies, such as Life Savers, licorice pieces, and other round candy or cereal with a hole in the middle for people to string on their elastic. Once they’ve made the pattern they want out of food, tie the two ends together. Now they have a necklace or bracelet to wear or snack on throughout the holiday!
These are just a few fun activities you can do with your family on Valentine’s Day. On this holiday focused on love, take time to spend time together as a family to celebrate the love that you share every day of the year.
Originally Published 2/14/2017