Don’t you just love Valentine’s Day? Every year I look forward to the month of February simply because of Valentine’s Day, one of my favorite holidays! Having Valentine’s Day on February 14 – smack dab in the middle of the month – encourages me to find fun ways to show my kids how much I love them all month long (or at least gives me two weeks to plan something special)!
There are so many creative, inexpensive ways to show love to your kids. Just think, wouldn’t you feel special to find a secret “I love you” note from someone, tucked into your lunchbox? It’s the simple things that make a big impact.
Here are 10 creative, easy, and inexpensive ways to show love to your kids:
1. Write love notes. I leave notes for my kids under their pillows and taped to their water cups. Put a love note somewhere fun and surprise them on Valentine’s Day or any day this month!
2. Cut out paper hearts. Remember making snowflakes when you were a kid by folding paper then cutting out sections? You can do that for Valentine’s Day with red construction paper! Then hang them around the dining room with fruits of the Spirit written on them and take the opportunity to share why those fruits show our love for each other.
3. Read together. Sit down and read something that starts the conversation about how much you love each other and how much God loves all of His children. I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb is a great book to read to start conversations about this!
4. Bake together. My kids all have different favorite snacks. So when I want to show a special love for them, I get the ingredients together on the kitchen counter for their individual favorite and ask them to help me bake. It’s a sweet way to show you appreciate their uniqueness and to spend some time together.
5. Go “hands free.” Put the cell phone down, unplug the laptop, and just say no to screen time for one day a week or the weekend. (You can learn more about this in Rachel Macy Stafford’s new book, Hands Free Mama). Look your kids in the eyes and spend some quality time with them. They are craving your presence! One of my favorite ways to do quality time with my kids is getting outside in natures — there’s just something magical about the outside air! It give us vitamins, energy and can wash your troubles away. I often invite the kids for walks, bike rides or just to sit out on the porch with me.
6. Make a list. Give each child a list of 5 things you are proud of about them. Make sure you highlight character traits over looks or talent.
7. Say “I love you”. I hate to admit it, but I don’t say it enough. It’s not part of how I was raised, and saying “I love you” doesn’t come naturally. So while I’m looking for ways to express my love, I also need to remember to say it!
8. Sing a song. This is something my husband does more than I do… but it’s really fun. Just spontaneously start singing a love song to your children. Sure, it’s embarrassing for them. But what’s the fun of being a parent if you can’t enjoy embarrassing your kids?
9. Make their bed. In my house everyone makes their own bed as part of their morning chores. So in February I will sneak into their room when they are in the bathroom and make their bed really quickly then rush out. Or I look for other chores I can do to surprise them.
10. Make a treasure hunt. This one takes a little more time, but it’s super fun! Make a treasure hunt with clues leading to a prize (candy, small toy, movie ticket, etc.). It’s easiest to start from the end and work your way to the beginning when making the clues.
I hope these ideas will inspire you to look for creative ways to show love to your children anytime of the year! If you have more than one child, remember you can do some of these for siblings as a group, but children really light up when you treat them as unique individuals and surprise each child individually.
Your Turn
What creative ways do you show love to your kids?