Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples anymore. It’s a day to honor relationships of all kinds, including love of family. And if you are looking for something cool to do with your family this Valentine’s Day, then look no further! These 5 super creative family Valentine’s Day ideas are just what you need!
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Valentine’s Day: Not Just for Couples
Valentine’s Day isn’t the mushy romantic holiday it once was. Now, don’t get me wrong – it’s romantic roots aren’t going anywhere. But Valentine’s Day is also ripe for starting a new family tradition.
Trust me when I tell you that adding a family Valentine’s Day to your family rituals will be so much fun! And armed with these creative family Valentine’s Day ideas, you are sure to have a blast.
Valentines Day as a Family Ritual
In our house, Valentine’s Day has always been about gratitude, appreciation, and of course, love. But nowadays, it’s about more than just romantic love – we celebrate love of all kinds, especially love of family.
And over the past several years, our Valentine’s Day traditions have morphed beyond chocolates and roses. They have become an ever-evolving set of rituals through which we celebrate our deep gratitude for the relationships we feel so lucky to share.
Instead of candlelight dinner in a fancy restaurant, my husband cooks a special meal for our family. Instead of a romantic getaway, we stay home and do Valentine-inspired activities together.
We don’t do expensive gifts anymore. Instead, we make things and do things for each other to show our appreciation.
Sure, my husband and I give each other a little something to say “I love you“, but the day is about so much more than just the two of us. It’s about celebrating the relationships that we nurture all year long.
Why I Don’t Hate Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that seems to draw a line in the sand. It feels like you either love it or you hate it.
Those who love it celebrate the opportunity to indulge in a little romance and say “I Love You” in extra special ways. Those who hate it may believe it’s a Hallmark holiday designed to increase spending and boost the economy.
What I love about Valentine’s Day is how it reminds me to make sure I tell others how I feel about them. But what I don’t like is the pressure from society to find that ‘special someone’. As if a romantic relationship is the only key to life’s happiness. The message seems to be if you aren’t part of a couple, then you aren’t whole.
But if there is one thing that I have learned in all my years as a family therapist, it’s that romance and infatuation are fleeting, and having a significant other is only satisfying if you are first satisfied with yourself.
A Celebration of Relationships
Though it wasn’t always the case, I now experience Valentine’s Day as a time to take stock of my relationships and make extra effort to show my love and appreciation. I no longer see it as a day for grand, romantic gestures or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Instead, I view it as an opportunity to celebrate the love I feel so lucky to have in my life.
It wasn’t until my mid-twenties, when I finally learned how to be simultaneously single and happy, that my friends helped me figure out the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
We would watch silly movies, drink good red wine, and eat ice cream cake. (Think Galentine’s Day from the show Parks and Recreation, but with less crazy thoughtfulness and cheaper gifts.)
This experience taught me that no matter who I was with, or what my romantic status was, I could be content with myself and my situation.
After that, whenever Valentine’s Day would roll around, whether I was dating someone or not, I would plan a fun evening in with loved ones. Maybe I’d cook a special dinner or bake some heart-shaped cookies, rent a movie or pick up a new board game. Nothing crazy. Just something fun, and never forced.
I always made sure it was a little special, but not too different from any other evening I would spend with those I held dear.
That continued to hold true when I met my husband. He shared my belief that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be showy. We’ve spent many a V-Day at home, doing the usual things we like to do together. The only difference was maybe there’d be more chocolate than usual. 🙂
A New Valentine’s Day Tradition
Now that I’m a mom, I see Valentine’s Day in much the same way I always have, except for one minor alteration. Instead of making the day about me and my husband, I now see Valentine’s Day a family holiday – a chance to spend quality bonding time together.
Not only does this new family tradition give us an opportunity to strengthen our relationships, but it also gives us the chance to model an important lesson about love: that loving yourself not only helps you love others better, but it allows you to truly accept their love in return.
Broadening what Valentine’s Day is all about sends a positive message that no matter where you are in your life, there are relationships to celebrate.
My hope is that this tradition, centered on something bigger than romantic love alone, will instill a sense of gratitude. I hope it will rewrite this idea that you need to be romantically linked to be happy.
5 Creative Family Valentine’s Day Ideas
These family Valentine’s Day ideas are simple, fun, and easy to do. Any one of these ideas will help you create a family-focused Valentine’s Day holiday experience.
1. Family Valentine’s Day Dinner
Nothing says family bonding like a family dinner ritual, so making a special family Valentine’s Day dinner is a no-brainer! Whether you make a surprise dinner for your family, or you cook a love-themed meal together, these ideas will inspire something delicious.
Family Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas
From fancy to fun, these family Valentine’s Day dinner ideas have you covered. Breakfast for dinner, an uber-decorated dinner table, a feast from the pros, and more!
Kid-Friendly Heart-Shaped Breakfast for Dinner
This fabulous heart-shaped breakfast from Pocket Change Gourmet will have you loving the idea of breakfast for dinner! This family Valentine’s Day dinner idea is chock full of delicious recipes but my favorite has to be the heart-shaped roasted potatoes!
A Fancy Family Valentine’s Day Feast
Let this over-the-top family Valentine’s Day dinner idea from Emmy Mom inspire you to get a little fancy this Valentine’s Day! This family Valentine’s Day “fancy” feast is just right for kids, complete with sparkling grape juice in plastic heart-covered champagne flutes!
A Family Valentine’s Day Dinner Food Network Style
You simply cannot go wrong with the pros from the Food Network at your side. This collection of lovingly prepared recipes will help you create a truly special full-course meal for your family! I especially love these Heart of the Batter cupcakes and their adorable strawberry hearts!
Loving Hearts Personal Pizzas
Looking for something fun and super easy? Then eHow won’t let you down. Your kids will adore these heart-shaped personal pizzas! Cut the pepperoni into hearts too for an extra sprinkle of love!
Heart-Shaped Hand Pies
These flaky delicious heart-shaped hand pies from Tastes of Lizzy T are such a creative family Valentine’s Day dinner idea!
Desserts in Pinks and Reds
This collection of perfectly pink and red desserts from The Idea Room will make your family swoon! My favorite is the gorgeous Layered Strawberry Jello Cups from The First Year.
2. Family Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot
Most kids love to smile for the camera. They hear “say cheese” and immediately flash that goofy grin. Kids love to dress up, too. So how about a family Valentine’s Day photo shoot?
You can all dress up in amazing Valentine’s Day outfits, set up the camera, and have a blast! Whether you nail a master family photo or not, the process of dressing up, setting the stage, and striking poses will be so much fun.
Valentine’s Day Family Picture Ideas
There are so many great ways to set up a family Valentine’s Day photo shoot. You could do it old school and hang up your favorite patterned sheets to create unique and hilarious backgrounds. Or maybe go wedding photo booth style and use a whole bunch of props. Whatever you decide to do, you will be making a happy memory for your family.
Here are a few Valentine’s Day family picture ideas to get you started.
DIY Family Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot Props
No family Valentine’s Day photo shoot is complete without props! If you want to create your own Valentine’s Day photo props, this mini-tutorial from Happily Eva After will show you how.
Non-DIY Family Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot Props
Not feeling the do-it-yourself props? Amazon has got you covered. Your kids will love these super fun Valentine’s Day props from WOONOO.
Photo Shoot Backdrop
Take your family Valentine’s Day photo shoot to the next level with a pro backdrop. I love this Valentine’s Day decor backdrop from HSDBackdrops.
Handmade Pink Heart Garland
This handmade pink heart garland from Adrianamededecor is perfect for Valentine’s Day. A lovely and affordable way to make your photos pop with pink!
Balloon Garland Photo Shoot Background
This adorable Valentine’s Day balloon garland from Soiree Love is the perfect accessory to your family Valentine’s Day photo shoot! Reviewers rave about how easy it is to put together.
Rustic Valentine’s Day Family Picture Idea
To achieve this rustic Valentine’s Day family picture from Jennifer Wolsey Photography, all you need are some Valentine’s Day sweaters and a few worn letter blocks that spell “LOVE”.
These set of LOVE blocks from Etsy is perfect!
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3. Family Valentine’s Day Card
Valentine’s Day is synonymous with sending valentines to those you love, and creating a family Valentine’s Day card is a great way to do just that.
Customized Family Valentine’s Day Card
You could use the photos from your family Valentine’s Day photo shoot to create an amazing DIY family Valentine’s Day card to send out to family and friends.
Or choose a ready-made design from the artists on Etsy. Etsy is one of the best places to get personalized Valentine’s Day cards, like these:
Handmade Valentines for Kids
If you’re looking to make something from scratch this Valentine’s Day, then check out this round-up of DIY Valentines for kids from Art Bar. The post is jam-packed with simple and super fun Valentine ideas that are handmade and from the heart.
Family Valentine’s Day Card Exchange at Home
Who says Valentines are just for the classroom? You can stage your very own Valentine exchange right at home!
First, have everyone decorate their own Valentine mailbox. This post from Crafty Morning features some fantastic DIY Valentine boxes you can make with your kids.
Next, carve out an afternoon to make each other some Valentines. You can choose from some of the DIY Valentine tutorials above, or buy some character or cartoon Valentine cards online.
I love these amazing space-themed Valentines. They are so unbelievably cool! They come with bouncy balls you can insert into each card, AND the back of each card has a scratch-off design feature. You can either scratch a special message on the back for your Valentine, or leave it untouched for the recipient to scratch designs on their own!
Check out this post for more cute Valentine Ideas for Kids!
4. Valentine’s Day Family Scavenger Hunt
Every kid loves a good scavenger hunt, and so do kids-at-heart. There are lots of creative ways to run a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt for your family.
One idea is to write clues on store-bought Valentines and hide them around the house. Each Valentine would lead to the next, providing riddled instructions on how to find the next clue. You could order the clues so that they eventually lead the players to one big Valentine-inspired hidden treasure.
I love the idea of one of these wooden treasure chests as the ultimate prize at the end. It’s cute, affordable and your kids can paint and decorate it!
Another way to do a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt is to create a series of mini-games in which the participants must work together to solve riddles, find objects around the house, or complete special Valentine’s Day STEAM challenges. You could draw from a stockpile of cheap Valentine’s Day prizes to award after each mini-game.
This Valentine’s Day prize pack from JOYIN is affordable and packed with quality toy prizes.
5. Valentine’s Day Family Craft Night
There are lots of amazing Valentine’s Day crafts out there for kids and families. A quick Pinterest search turns up hundreds. But what if you don’t have time to do all that Pinterest research?
Well don’t worry, dear parent. I’m on it!
You are sure to find the perfect Valentine’s Day craft to make with your family in the mini-collection below. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
You Make My Heart Flutter Valentine Craft
This bug-tastic craft from Teaching Mama is absolutely adorable and so easy to do! Your kids will love it!
Shaving Cream Hearts
Who knew shaving cream could be the secret to beautiful artwork? Make your own lovely shaving cream hearts with this tutorial from Hello, Wonderful.
Valentine Crowns
Got a prince or princess in the making? Make it official and honor your little royals with these sweet Valentine crowns from What Can We Do with Paper and Glue.
Heart Suncatchers
These delicate and pretty suncatchers are easy to make and so fun to display. Your kids will love showing off their creations to all the neighbors and birds. Let Buggy and Buddy show you how to makes these adorable heart suncatchers!
DIY Heart Clay Pendants for Kids
I absolutely love this craft! So simple and easy to do but such an amazing result! Your kids will adore everything about these heart clay pendants, especially wearing them! Learn how to make these awesome pendants at Crafty Morning.
This concludes my round-up of family Valentine’s Day ideas! I hope you found something fun to do with your family. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day!
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