Skip the Frills: Heartfelt Valentine’s Ideas for Your Little Ones

Valentine’s Day. February 14th. LOVE DAY. And if you think it’s just for romantic partners - think again!

If you can’t already tell, I’m a passionate person when it comes to love, affection, and all that wonderfully mushy, gushy stuff. But let’s be real - holidays like Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming. The hustle, the bustle, the grand gestures, and all those picture-perfect Instagram posts with heart-shaped everything. Whew. It's a lot.

But here’s the thing: showing love doesn’t HAVE to be extravagant or filled with five million frills to be meaningful. In fact, it’s often the simplest acts - those thoughtful, intentional moments - that make someone feel truly cherished.

And that’s especially true when it comes to our kids.

Don’t get sucked into the idea that you need to spend hundreds of dollars or bake a giant heart-shaped cake with individually placed sprinkles just to make your child feel loved. The best and most valuable gift you can give them is your love and acceptance - full stop. So this Valentine’s Day, why not just crank up the dial a little with a sprinkle of extra celebration?

Let me share a little story. My dad never forgot about me and my sister on Valentine’s Day. It’s a quality I’ll always cherish. Some years it was a simple chocolate treat; other times, a single flower. One year, he hid small teddy bears holding Kinder eggs around the house for us to find. These gestures never broke the bank. He didn’t stress about them, and they certainly wouldn’t have gone viral on social media. But they made me feel special - and that’s what matters most.

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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to share some simple, meaningful ideas to show your little ones a bit of extra love. They should all be adaptable using items you already have in your home & chunks of time that are already baked into your usual day. Pick one or two - that’s all it takes - and after, let me know how those sweet moments warmed the little hearts in your home.

1. Hearts on the Door

Write down things you love about your child on paper hearts and tape them to their bedroom door for a heartwarming surprise.

2. Love Timer

Set a timer for one hour and tell them something you love about them every time it goes off.

3. Balloon Messages

Fill a balloon with sweet messages and tape it to their breakfast chair for a fun, pop-worthy start to the day.

4. Heart-Shaped Food

Turn their meals into a love fest by shaping foods like pancakes, sandwiches, or fruit into hearts.

5. Drive-Time Love Talk

Use car rides to talk about Valentine’s Day and be very intentional to share all the reasons you love and appreciate them.

6. Toy Playscape

Create a playful scene with their favorite toys, sprinkled with some Valentine’s-themed decorations (paper hearts, red balloons, etc.)

7. Memory Lane

Spend time looking through old photos and reminiscing about happy moments together & sneaking in some extra cuddle time.

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At the end of the day, it’s not about money or time-consuming prep work. What matters is that your child feels seen, loved, and cherished - that’s what they’ll remember forever.

So this Valentine’s Day, embrace the small, meaningful moments that make love shine.