Valentine’s Day Fun for the Whole Family

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate love, kindness and connection with your family. This year, plan activities that teach your children about the importance of quality time, compassion and gratitude for others. From creative crafts to outdoor adventures, this list of 10 unique activities that focus on love and kindness can be celebrated with your whole family.

Throw a dance party. A dance party is a fun way to celebrate love, friendship and joy! Find a playlist of upbeat, love-themed songs and have a party in the living room. Decorate with balloons, red and pink streamers, and string lights to create a festive atmosphere. Listen to feel-good tunes and encourage everyone to dress in Valentine’s attire.

Set up a family photo shoot. Create a backdrop of heart-shaped decorations on a wall or load the couch with cozy, festive pillows and pile everyone on for a snuggly shot. For extra charm, take candid photos of everyone laughing or reading a story together. These sweet photos will serve as fun memories in the years to come.

Craft with love. Take time to create something meaningful together. Craft handmade Valentine’s Day cards for each other, create beautiful decorations (see highlighted ideas on previous page), design a family “love jar” filled with notes of appreciation for each other, or send relatives heartshaped mail to remind them what you love about them. These projects strengthen family bonds and create keepsakes to cherish.

Go on a nature walk. Put a Valentine’s Day spin on a nature walk. Head to a local park, trail or garden and bring a checklist for a “heart hunt,” where everyone searches for heart-shaped objects in nature, such as rocks, leaves or clouds. Fresh air, creativity and quality time together will make it a memorable and meaningful Valentine’s Day adventure.

Commit random acts of kindness. Random Acts of Kindness Day is on Feb. 17, so aim to inspire compassion and positivity as small acts of love often make a big impact. Show kids that doing something nice for others makes them feel good, too. Bake heart-shaped cookies for neighbors, encourage kids to compliment each other, and donate unused toys to another family who may enjoy them.

Download our Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt at www.sandiegofamily.com/ things-to-do/out-about/naturescavenger-hunt-for-kids.

For more ideas, read our article “41 Random Acts of Kindness: How to Make the World a Better Place” at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-todo/donations-volunteers-and-localfundraisers/random-acts-of-kindness.