I am probably old fashioned in my thinking, but I think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday to celebrate spouses and significant others. I, personally, don’t think of it as a time to give gifts to my daughter. As a teacher, I see all different kinds Valentine celebrations between families. Here are some inexpensive ways I hope to include my little one in our Valentine’s Day celebrations this year:
- Make cards for grandparents and/or classmates. Most little kids love any excuse for stickers, glue and glitter. Take some time leading up to the big day to make cards and homemade Valentines for your child’s special people.
- Enjoy heart shaped food. We have enough candy and sweets, so you won’t see me in line buying chocolates for my family. Instead, I like to make something heart shaped for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The options are limitless: pancakes, sandwiches, or fruit in a heart shape can get a smile from a little one.
- Decorate her/his door. I have seen several variations of this, but most of them involve taping paper hearts on the door. If your child is old enough to read, include a few special messages on the hearts. If you have purchased a small gift for your child, you could even have a paper heart trail to their present.
- Make a little extra time together. Sometimes we find ourselves out to dinner for Valentine’s Day, but most of the time, we are eating at home out of the crowds. Staying home leaves us a little time for an extra book or maybe an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Love Day before bed.
No matter how your family chooses to celebrate the day, it doesn’t have to break the budget. Kids love small gestures just as much as grand ones. Remember, it is all about expressing love!
Shelly Cain teaches in Alexander County. She is a wife to David and a mother to a spunky 3 year old girl. She loves to read, write, teach, and learn.
