We’ve curated this resource to help Boston-area and Massachusetts parents find JOY in even the smallest, silliest holiday!
Valentine’s Day is perfect for kids and families, and we hope this guide gives you the inspiration you need to make this Valentine’s Day an extra special one.
How to use this guide:
Each image leads to a family-friendly Valentine’s Day activity or idea. Click on an image to find more info, or take your time scrolling through to find the information that best suits your family.
CLICK AN IMAGE BELOW TO READ MORE
VALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST. Stay with us, here! You don’t need to be a “Pinterest mom” to pull off a sweet and special V-Day breakfast for your kiddos. Here are some fun ideas to surprise your kids and bank some mom-points from your little valentines!
Main Course
- Heart-shaped egg-in-a-hole
- Use a cookie cutter to cut a heart-shaped hole in the center of a buttered piece of bread. Place on a hot pan, and crack an egg into the heart hole. Cook until almost cooked through, turning the bread to toast the second side.
- Heart-shaped peanut butter and jelly toast
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out heart toast shapes
- Heart-shaped pancakes
- Drip your pancake batter carefully in the shape of a heart!
Side Dishes
- Cut strawberries into hearts
- Strawberry or raspberry yogurt plus Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Beverages
- Any PINK or RED juice!
- Milk with a drop of red food coloring in it
- Water with fruit punch ice cubes
Roll up your sleeves and embrace the “crafternoon.” We know your schedules are crammed, but try to set aside time to get messy and CREATE together! Save these crafts as keepsakes, or gift them to a grandparent or other valentine!
Heart-Shaped "Stained Glass"
Follow these easy instructions to create your own “stained glass” heart for Valentine’s Day!
Materials:
Cardstock or construction paper, red tissue paper, pink tissue paper, white tissue paper, contact paper, scissors, a pencil.
Instructions:
1. Fold your cardstock in half and sketch half of a heart shape as a guide for cutting. Cutting while the paper is folded will ensure you have a symmetrical heart!
2. Cut out the heart shape. Be careful to center the heart on the paper so you have a “hole” in the cardstock paper and the entire paper is not cut.
3. Cut a piece of contact paper just large enough to cover the entire piece of cardstock.
4. Lay the cardstock on top of the sticky side of the contact paper.
5. Allow your child to decorate inside the heart with tissue paper shapes or scraps! The contact paper will ensure all the tissue paper sticks inside the creation.
6. When your child is finished, place another piece of contact paper (sticky side down) on top of the heart shape. This will “seal” your artwork and ensure nothing stays sticky!
7. Tape your art to a window, and let the light shine through like stained glass!
Thumbody Loves You Valentine
Follow these easy instructions to create your own “thumb-body loves you” valentine or keepsake!
Materials:
Plain white note cards or paper, red stamp ink, a black marker, and a wet paper towel for clean up!
Instructions:
1. Show your child how to stamp their thumb onto the ink pad.
2. Place one thumbprint carefully on your notecard VERTICALLY. This will be your little thumbprint “person”!
3. Using your black marker, add facial features, arms, legs, and hair.
4. Write the words “Thumb-Body Loves You” on the card and have your child write their name if they are able.
5. Repeat for as many thumbprint “people” as you’d like.
6. Deliver to your valentine or hold on to it for a cute thumbprint keepsake of your own.
Heart-Shaped Cookie Decorating
Ingredients
Instructions
- Beat butter, sugar, and salt until smooth. Add egg yolks, cream, and vanilla, and beat until fluffy. Add flour 1 cup at a time.
- Shape into a ball and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cookie dough can be made 24 hours ahead of time.
- Take the dough out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes prior to rolling it out. Roll out on a floured counter or on parchment paper to desired thickness. (I like them pretty thin.) Use cookie cutters to make shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cookies cool before decorating.
- Mix frosting ingredients well and separate into a few different containers before adding food coloring to make desired colors.
- Use paintbrushes to decorate cookies, add sprinkles, and enjoy!
End your Valentine’s Day with the easiest idea ever… a “PIZZA MY HEART” party! All you need is pizza! Leave the cooking to the professionals and order from your favorite local pizza place, or make your own pizza at home. If you’re feeling extra festive, call around and ask if your local pizza joint makes a heart-shaped pizza!
We like to shop the after-holiday clearance sales and store decor away for future use, but if you are going all-out for your Valentine’s Day celebration for the first time ever, here are some inexpensive options for easy and fun decor!
