Valentine’s Day Activities For the Family
Although people typically associate Valentine’s Day with couples in love, there’s no reason why you can’t plan holiday activities perfect for your whole family. Including children in Valentine’s Day planning will not only make them feel special, but can also save you time. In fact, by planning family activities instead of the typical romantic events for two, you may be able to bypass many of the Valentine’s Day crowds.
Healthy Valentine’s Day Activities
Depending on where you live, it may be too cold to plan outdoor activities for Valentine’s Day. For some, family activities in the snow are appropriate, but other healthy indoor activities for your family could include:
- Bowling
- Indoor miniature golf
- Laser Tag
- Rock wall climbing
- Skating.
The key to making these family activities a success on Valentine’s Day is to keep the family together and keep everyone moving. If you have a video game system that requires your physical participation, this is an excellent alternative for families who prefer staying at home. It can also help you save money on your holiday celebration while allowing you to stay in shape.
Special Valentine’s Day Meal
Festive food remains a staple of most Valentine’s Day celebrations. You can turn meal preparation into fun family activities instead of simply going out to eat. Time in the kitchen with your family can give you much needed bonding time and help kids learn how to cook.
While you can create meals as complex as you like for Valentine’s Day, there’s no need to spend hours putting together a five-course gourmet meal. Instead, you can incorporate small changes like:
- Cutting food into heart shapes
- Serving red and pink food or drinks
- Using festive Valentine’s Day tableware from a party supply store.
You can also get a variety of baking ideas from your local grocery store, as most begin carrying heart-shaped sprinkles and Valentine’s Day themed desserts well in advance of the holiday.
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Buying a Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart may be easy, but figuring out what to buy for your kids can become more of a challenge. While candy is a useful standby, you may wish to find a healthier alternative. Possible Valentine’s Day gifts appropriate for the whole family include:
- Activity and coloring books
- Valentine’s Day puzzles
- Warm pajamas.
If your family prefers doing things to getting things, you could also put together activity coupons on red or pink paper. Your coupons might be good for an outing to a local museum, play or nature center. For added fun, you could prepare coupons in advance of Valentine’s Day and use them as prizes for your favorite family games.