20 Creative Valentine’s Day Activities That Bring Your Family Together
We often get caught up in the routines of daily life, jumping from one task to the next.
Before you know it, one day bleeds into another, and you forget how important connecting is.
Enjoying Valentine’s Day activities with family is a way to solve this. Annual traditions give you a chance to slow down, enjoy your loved ones, and remember what truly matters.
Plus, they are another handy tool in the toolbox for building intentional lives!
So, check out some of our family favorites and other great Valentine’s Day activities to add to the mix!
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Valentine’s Day Traditions Your Family Will Love
1. Write Love You Hearts on the Door
It’s an easy (free) way to make your child smile!
There are many different ways you can do this.
1. On February 1st, start the month by putting a paper heart on the kids’ doors saying one thing you love about them. Then, every morning until Valentine’s Day, the kids wake up to a new heart.
2. Make it easier, and do “love you hearts” from the kids or everyone in the family. The tradition can also be done on just Valentine’s Day, instead of multiple days.
3. Or if you’re low on time or energy, print and cut the love notes below for your kids!
Related Post: 131 Creative Ways to Say I Love You
2. Share a Candlelight Meal
Prepare a simple but fancy candlelight Valentine’s Day dinner as a family. Bring out the china, candlesticks, and cheap decorations if you have them. Then, splurge on a few indulgent food choices.
When I was a kid, we had crab legs every Valentine’s Day. It was the one day of the year we knew it would be a special seafood dinner. And it created fond memories!
You could also finish the meal with a simple card or gift for the kids, but the meal itself is what’s special.
3. Do a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Valentine’s Day is perfect for a fun scavenger hunt with a sweet surprise! Kids, couples, and families will love the excitement. Use the printable clues for easy setup.
Hide the clues, share some laughs, and create special memories this Valentine’s Day!
4. Host an Interesting Dinner Guest
We have a unique Valentine’s Day tradition in our home. You see, “Mr. Mustache” appears at dinner every year. Essentially, mom puts on a pink mustache and pretends to be a “very important person.” Uncontrollable giggling ensues.
This was not a planned tradition, but sometimes the spontaneous ones are the best! As a bonus, they see mom being playful, which is not always my strongest trait.
5. Introduce The Love Journal
For this idea, say or write down in a “love” journal one thing you love about each person in the family.
Typically, the journal gets passed around at dinner. If you keep it from year to year to look at, it’s sure to make every person in the family feel like a million bucks.
You can also do this with a love jar instead of a journal.
6. Play Fun Valentine’s Day Games
This site has tons of hilarious games to get the giggles going. And they’re family-friendly!
Don’t miss:
- The 5 Second Game: Valentine’s Day Edition
- Valentine’s Day Charades
- Valentine’s Day Taboo
- Valentine’s Day Outburst
7. Bake a Heart Pizza
Need a super simple Valentine’s Day activity for your family?
Have no fear! Almost every pizza place offers heart pizzas, or you make your own! If you need a low-effort idea, this is one simple thing to make the day feel special.
Grab some unique pizza topping and game ideas for a fun family night. >>
8. Love Counting
Who wouldn’t love something telling all the ways you love them?
Create a book, sign, or print this free printable that says “10 things I love about…” Then, hang it on your kids’ or spouse’s doors. It’s a very simple, free way to spread love and kindness!
9. Nature Cards
Next, make a card out of nature. Turn twigs and pinecones into a big heart and take a picture for a Valentine’s card your recipients won’t forget.
Related Post: The Best Winter Bucket List
10. Enjoy Red Food
I don’t love adding food coloring to everything, but special red foods can be so much fun! So, enjoy pancakes with strawberries on February 14th, or eat:
- a strawberry smoothie
- raspberries
- pasta sauce
- red grapes
- beets
11. Play Valentine’s Day Never Have I Ever
Spice up your Valentine’s celebration with a game of Never Have I Ever—Valentine’s Day edition! Perfect for couples, friends, or groups, this game explores love, crushes, funny romantic mishaps, and sweet surprises.
Get ready to laugh, bond, and maybe even blush as everyone reveals their quirkiest Valentine’s confessions.
12. Send Late Christmas Cards
Be different!
Send your Christmas cards out for Valentine’s Day instead! My friend skips the Christmas card tradition in favor of a family card that goes out on Valentine’s Day. It seems more relaxing, right?!
13. Give Special Love Coupons
These blank love coupons are perfect for giving a gift from the heart. Bonus – they’re free! Use them to promise chores, gifts, and more.
14. Make a Special Valentine’s School Lunch
Next, pack a special Valentine’s Day lunch. Prepare a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a heart cut out of one bread (so the red jelly shows through).
Then, follow this up with heart-shaped cheese, heart strawberries, and red (beet) crackers. It’s simple, but fun!
Or try one of these Valentine’s Day Recipes Kids Can Help Make >>
15. Read Your Favorite Valentine’s Day Book
Choose the same one every year, or explore new ones.
16. Tell Your Favorite Jokes & Riddles
Tell special Valentine’s Day riddles and jokes and see who can get the most right!
17. Laugh With Valentine’s Day Mad Libs
Unleash your creativity with Valentine’s Day Mad Libs!
Fill in the blanks with nouns, verbs, and adjectives to create hilarious love letters, quirky poems, or wild Valentine’s stories. This activity guarantees plenty of giggles and sweet surprises for your holiday gathering.
18. Make Valentine’s Day Cards
Print these free Valentine’s Day cards and make classmates, friends, and neighbors feel special.
19. Test What You Know About Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day trivia game tests players’ knowledge, from food to history and traditions. Questions can range from easy to challenging. It’s a fun way to compete and learn new facts.
20. Try Valentine’s Day This or That
Players are given two holiday options and must choose which one they prefer. It’s a simple, quick game that can lead to fun debates. It’s ideal for adding light-hearted fun to any gathering.
Grab the Valentine’s Day This or That Questions Printable or try the Would You Rather Valentine’s Day cards >>
Bonus: You’ll Also Love These…
Now, Pick a FEW
Sometimes, it’s easy to add more and more activities (because they’re fun-loving and cool!). But really, a few family activities for each holiday is plenty.
We want the kids to remember the special ones later on. Not more, but better. We have enough stress in our lives, and this should not add to it.
What’s Next?
Finally, it’s worth it to reflect on your traditions.
A few years ago, I tried an activity that we found fun. But afterward, I realized that it didn’t match up with our values or family personality.
Your family evolves and so do your traditions. So, it’s ok to change a tradition that doesn’t work anymore.
What are your favorite Valentine’s Day activities with your family? I would love to hear what works for you!
Other family posts you may enjoy…
- 50 Ways to Connect Through Family Night – have fun together regularly with these ideas!
- How to Become a More Playful Mom – easy actions that make a big impact.
- 11 Unforgettable Ways to Make a Birthday Special – simple traditions that don’t require a big party!
- The Best List of Family Traditions to Start – Give these daily, weekly, and monthly ideas a try.
I love the I love you hearts idea. We actually did this one year where the kids came up with an I love you heart every day for Daddy. I want to do it again this year but make it into a gift to give him on the day. We usually get the kids a little gift the morning of Valentine’s Day and then have heart pizza for dinner. I also like to pack a Valentine’s lunch for the kids. Last year it was a PB&J sandwich with a heart cut out of one piece of the bread so the strawberry jelly showed through, cheese slices cut out as hearts, heart strawberries, and red crackers (beet crackers). We also really enjoy planning and making all the valentines for the kids at school.
These are awesome ideas! I never thought about having the kids do the hearts for dad! I also really love the lunch idea. I need to find a heart cookie cutter now! Thanks for sharing!