It’s that time of year again when everyone is thinking of something special to do to celebrate Valentine’s Day. While there are many traditions for couples that we are all familiar with, to me Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love, it’s a day to celebrate all the many people that bring us joy throughout the year. So, I thought we would do something a little different and share some truly inspired ways to celebrate all the loves in your life this year – and create some traditions for you and your family.
Get Crafty – String together red hearts on ribbon with each heart sharing qualities you love about the other person by writing it or colouring on each heart. Amanda DeGrace of http://www.amandadegrace.ca/
Mail Call – Buy or make mailboxes for each member of the family and write each other letters throughout the month using special papers, cards, or stationery. This is a great way to practice letters, to teach children the importance of handwritten notes from loved ones, and to tell each other that you appreciate all that they do as well as well as give you some great {heart melting} additions to your child’s scrapbook or memory box. Leanne Heilman of http://www.raveandreview.com/
Tasty Treats – Chocolate is good for you. As with everything in life, there is a catch! Only dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa), shows health benefits, so banish the drugstore chocolate bars and bring on the good stuff! One of the ways that I get my chocolate fix without all the caloric impact is to make hot cocoa, but not just any hot cocoa. You want a can of cocoa powder that has only one ingredient: Cocoa! Theresa Albert of http://www.theresaalbert.com/
Love Notes – Help your kids write {or draw} special letters for their grandparents or special relatives to send in the mail. Not only will it make your recipient’s day, it’s also a great way to stay connected even if you can’t get together to celebrate the holiday. Leanne Heilman of http://www.raveandreview.com/
A Dinner In – Instead of going out for a fancy dinner and having to find and pay for babysitters, fight the crowds and pay for overpriced food, my husband and I make a special dinner at home. We each pick a new recipe that calls for fun ingredients or a special new kitchen gadget and then give it to each other as a gift so we make dinner as a family. Not only is it extra fun to cook something new and exciting, it’s a lot cheaper than a gourmet dinner – even with the extra ingredients or new kitchen tools and the best part is we can use them again and again throughout the year! Leanne Heilman of http://www.raveandreview.com/
Treats for Everyone! – I get some little things for my girls and something nice for my hubby and we get take out, which is a treat around here…yum!! Kimberly Lee Dougherty, PTPA member
Love Tokens – Don’t underestimate the power of surprising your children with a little token of love. Last year, my husband created a heart out of flower petals on the counter so my daughter saw it when she came down for breakfast before school. It doesn’t take much to help them walk on air and best of all, you get to walk up there with them. Sue Kirchner of www.ChocolateCakeClub.com
Simple but Special – Growing up, my mom always used to get us a valentines balloon which was held down with our favorite candy and a card. Now, I’m doing the same for my son. Kristin Phillips, PTPA Member
Decorate with Love – Have your kids help you cover the table in a red table cloth, sprinkle hearts, red flowers, candles and fancy napkins! Even if you decide on a family favourite of pizza that night, it will be done with 
some special pizzazz! Then the table is already decorated for when the kids go to bed and you and your partner have a lovely dinner together! Amanda DeGrace of http://www.amandadegrace.ca/
The Gift of Literature - Every Valentine’s Day my father would get me a book which he inscribed on the cover “Happy Valentine’s Day to my darling daughter” and then would put the date. These books were not necessarily Valentine’s Day related, but rather a way to build my library. I have been doing the same thing with my daughters since they were born and will continue this tradition for many years to come! Lindsay Harris of www.glowbaby.ca
Flower Power - Every year, my husband buys my daughter a single rose on Valentine’s Day. It’s his way of reminding her that he loves her. This small token is huge for her. When she gets the flower she is beyond elated. We started this tradition when she was three. One year, my husband had to travel for work and miss Valentine’s Day. I bought her one red rose and gave it to her when I picked her up from daycare. I told her it was from Daddy and that he was sorry he couldn’t be with his little valentine that day. Before we went home, she showed every teacher, every student and every toy that looked like it had ears that her Daddy had given her a rose. Sue Kirchner of www.ChocolateCakeClub.com
Love in any Language - Teach your kids how to say this important phrase in another verbal language or how about in Sign Language? Not only does this inspire your child to learn the languages of the world, it can also be a fun thing to record your child doing each year! Watch this video with Blogaholic Laura Berg from the PTPA winning My Smart Hands and now you have an unspoken way to tell each other just how you feel!
Congratulations to Kellee (comment #10)! Please email diane@ptpamedia.com to arrange for your awesome prize!
COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR TRADITIONS AND YOU COULD WIN A PTPA AWARD WINNING IDEAPAINT 40FT HOME KIT!
53 Responses to Valentine’s Day Advice from the Blogaholics: Scavenger Hunt Winner
I love the idea of a dinner in so that our son can join us. I think he’ll love decorating the table with his Valentine’s creations!
call our family overseas and dottie sings Happy valentine’s day to you(tune of Happy Bday)
no traditions as of yet…I do get a v-day card from my grandpa every year though!
My favorite tradtion for my family is making little heart shaped cards with the boys, and then having dinner at home with my husband. It may be in to go trays and the candle light is a yankee jar candle (lol) but its spent with my husband and little guys
love is our only tradition for everyday!
This year my I sat down with my craft-loving girls and we made homemade Valentine’s to mail to family that live far away. The girls had so much fun and I know the hand written “I love you” from my 5 year old will mean the world to Grandma and Grandpa. Then we made chocolate cut-out cookies in heart shapes, frosted them pink and added heart sprinkles. We’ll mail the cookies with the cards. This was out first year doing it, but it will be a new tradition- the first year of many to come
I’ve heard the idea of leaving a trail of candy for kids — might try that.
My birthday falls on Valentine’s day so growing up my mother created a character known as the “Valentine’s Day Fairy”. Every Valentine’s Day when I got up there was a basket Of goodies right outside my door (much like the Easter bunny). Then later that night we would do a birthday party. It was very sweet because this way ny mom felt I did not miss out on the holiday. I have carried on the tradition with my kids. None of their birthdays falls on that day but to me there is nothing more fun then waking up to treats… Helps you “feel the love”
A new tradition for us is on Valentines Day while my husband is at work my daughter and I cut out pink and red hearts (well I cut them out) and then she decorates them and we put them up all over the house. Since we are on a tighter budget this year I am letting my husband choose a dinner that he wants and I will make it for him and then we will all sit down as a family and play games or watch a movie.
This year we will be starting a new tradition since we have a new little man in our lives. We have a nice dinner at home and spend time with our son. He will be 4 months old tomorrow and his laughs and giggles are enough for me this Valentine’s!
I read in a magazine to cut out hearts and write down things you love about the other person and hang the hearts from the ceiling. Similar to the suggestion in this article about glueing the hearts to a ribbon. I think we might do that this year for my hubby since my four year old is really into learning how to write now.
The Hubby and I like to eat out, without the children. It doesn’t matter where we go, it doesn’t have to be fancy, just a private night by ourselves.
We have a 4 year old and haven’t celebrated Valentine’s day as of yet.
This year I’m taking the idea from above and getting a helium balloon and attaching it to a candy apple for my daughter.
Might possible do the same for my husband.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S!!
We have a movie night with the kids and lots of hugs and kisses.
We love celebrating with the kids. We decorate the house the week leading into Valentinrs day and then depending on where V-Day falls in the week we have a nice family dinner when we have all the kids together. We are a blended fam. We deck the table in all that is red & pink. I love the idea about going around the table and getting everyone to say what they love about the other family members. Will do that for sure.
Chocolate, so far that is our only tradition for the day.
I love including the children in our traditions. We always set up a fancy dinner for our kids and give them little Valentine’s gifts from us. They love it!
I make a favortie dinenr and leave littl love notes with a piece of chocloate in their lunches
I always make sure the kids wake up to cute little goodies on Valentines Day morning.
Since we have kids now, we start to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our children. If Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday, we will celebrate it in the weekend just before Valentine’s Day. We will have a bit of Valentine’s Day decoration in our home, and then get together and watch a family movie together at home, then go out for lunch and have a fancy dinner at home at night!
Our twin girls just turned 3, and the last 2 years they have made handprint valentines for family members.
Our tradition has always been to do something romantic and fun, like trying out a new hidden gem in the city. We don’t buy each other gifts, we do something free (ie. Pick a song or a poem for one another).
This year, since we have our baby boy, we will be spending an evening at home with a great home cooked meal, and our usual free gift. This year we will also include a poem or song for our son, to show him how much he is loved from now.
Our tradition was that my husband and I would get dressed up and go out for dinner at a new restaurant that we would want to try out. This year we will be changing things as we now have a little girl who is 5 1/2 months old. I’m planning on making him a dinner of his choice and then sitting down to a dinner while listening to music like we used to do when we were dating.
Since resturants are always packed we stay in and do a fun dinner with our kids on v-day, this year is fondu! Then the next weekend we go out just the two of us to celebrate v-day with some alone time.
My husband and I have a new baby (born February 1st) so this year is going to be different from the usual dinner out. I think we are going to enjoy a quiet evening at home with some good food and maybe even a glass of wine! Looking forward to giving my husband a valentine from Max!
When the kids get up on Valentine’s Day I always have a little treat to let them know I love them at the breakfast table. It is a tradition I have continued that my mother used to do for me and my siblings.
Valentine’s dinner out with my husband!
I am starting a new tradtion this year with my 2 1/2 year old daughter. We are making a valentines care package for Daddy!
We don’t have a set tradition yet…normally my husband and I go out to a dinner date a week or two before or after V-day (we like to miss the rush) and on V-day we do a home cooked family meal for all of us. Our son who is almost 4 enjoys the crafts, candy and v-day cards. Hopeing that once our 4 mth old daughter gets older, we can start some new family tradiions!
Each Valentine’s day is usually spend having dinner out at a nice restaurant. This year my five year old and my two year old will be preparing our own special V-day dinner at the house. They will both get a special V-day treat. It’s going to be a special ladies only evening.
One of our traditions is to have “valentines” baskets for EVERYONE (even grown ups) We fill them with handmade cards, candy, and other fun stuff
The tradition I remember the most when i was growing up was that my dad would NEVER forget me or my sister on Valentine’s day and though he got mom a bouquet of flowers he would ALWAYS get a flower for me and my sister and it just made us feel so special. After all when you’re young your heart belongs to daddy and what better way for a daddy to keep it that way than to show his daughter how important she is and how much he loves her on a national holiday of love.
We make red, heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, and we also always send valentine cards to our family members near and far with pics of the kids wearing red and holding hearts with special messages to each of them.
each year my children and i make heart shaped cookies and we do valentines together. when i get mommy time i always make sure to get at least one lifetime movie in too.
also when i was growing up my step-father would always bring my mom a dozen long stemmed roses and he would never forget me either… he would actually get me a dozen as well!!! what a guy!!!
Our valentines Day is alway filled with lots of red and of course, love. The kids wake up to heart clings and love notes written on the bathroom mirror. Then it’s off the a red breakfast of red pancakes with strawberry syrup, strawberry milk and sliced strawberries. We spend time prior to valentines day making unique valentines to send to grandparents and also spend time making valentine cookies for the neighbors. Dinner is always at home with the kids of course something red and special of course plenty of games to play as a family. Spending time together is a great way to show your loved ones you care about them.
My kids are home schooled so several years ago we made mailboxes out of shoe boxes and now each V-Day we set them out in front of their door and with 5 brothers and sisters we each make a card or craft and put it in their box so that they have lo’s of different stuff to see when they open it.
We have a “fancy” dinner at home. My little girls get dressed up and I name the food something fancy.
I pick out books specific to each of my grandkids and their interests along with a candy Valentine. Also print out Valentine cards for them to color for their parents. They give out Valentines at school each year but giving one to their parents makes it special.
Lots of good food (always a desert with pink frosting/sprinkles!)
My tradition was posted above –Growing up, my mom always used to get us a valentines balloon which was held down with our favorite candy and a card. Now, I’m doing the same for my son.
As for celebrating with my husband we always order pizza and rent a movie since we don’t have a babysitter.
We always do crafts with our kids and they make valentine’s for their school friends
My favourite tradition is just spending the day with my family. We are always so busy but on Valentines day we always cook dinner together, eat and play a family game or two before some quiet books together and then a great big family snuggle before bed!! I don;t know how long my kids will go for this, I will enjoy it while I can !!
Favorite tradition – giving my husband a sappy love card and going out for a romantic dinner!! This will be the first V-day that my daughter will understand what is going on so we’ll give her a small gift and a valentine. I will also make heart shaped pancakes for her!! YUM!!!
I would usually get all crafty and decorate our place. For the past couple of years we’ve just had take out or decided to make a special dinner as a treat to ourselves. It’s the time spent together that makes it all worthwhile. Now that our son is 2, he wants to get involved so they’ll be new traditions that we’ll create. Over the weekend we’ll be focusing our efforts on Vday crafts for family and friends, including the friends at his daycare, and once again decorating the house. We’ll probably also spend some time baking the yummiest of heart-shaped cookies!
We try to keep Valentines’ Day pretty low-key, but my husband and I usually manage to make each other cards, and cook a special dinner.
I just sent a blog to my friends earlier this week asking for valentines day ideas for my husband. one of my friends suggested a nice steak dinner at home – i replied to her that is an excellent idea but I am the worst cook ever, hahaha! I would really like to start a new tradition for valentines day this year!!
I’m a baker, so I always make holiday shaped cookies or cupcakes for my daycare kids and then let them decorate [and of course make a mess;)]. They love it and the parents like that we do crafts and treats on holidays.
We love to create pretty cupcakes for all of our Valentine’s every year which has become a yearly tradition for us.
I make sure to decorate for the holiday- with fun happy hearts all around.(This is something I learned from my Mom!:)) I get everyone their own valentine and yummy candy — which is waiting for them when they wake up in the morning. We also go out for dinner as a family to one of our favorite spots.
The four of us head out to our favorite pizza place and enjoy time with just us. We run by DQ and get some ice cream, and then we head home for family movie night. With the day being on a monday this year, we may have to save Movie night until Friday or Sat. I think I may incorporate some other ideas I saw here too!
We love to make a special meal for the whole family, kids included. Of course a special chocolate dessert is in order also!
I buy my wife her favorite flowers and something else special be it jewelry, clothes, tickets to a show, etc. I also buy our baby boy something to celebrate Valentines Day like a stuffed animal.
I buy my husband a special card and get him a gift card to his favourite coffee shop. We also hit restaurant for a romantic dinner. I also buy our son a treat for Valentines Day.