How to Make Valentine’s Day Extra Special for Kids
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How to Make Valentine’s Day Extra Special for Kids

Updated: Feb 1

Valentine’s Day may be commercialized as a romantic holiday, but at the end of the day there’s nobody we love more than our children.  The real V-Day celebrations should belong to the kids, and it doesn’t have to cost much to make them feel special (after all you can’t buy love). Here are some small but sweet ways to make your littles feel extra loved this February 14th and that will get them excited to celebrate!


 
1. Serve Heart Shaped Treats 


If you own a heart shaped cookie/sandwich cutter, you can make a wide variety of Valentine’s Day treats that are both savory and sweet.  I love this set from Amazon because not only does it come with a heart, but also 3 additional shapes for under $10.  Each cutter also comes with a sealer and a miniature matching shape making it a versatile set at a great value.  See below for some inspiration for different heart shaped treats!

Classic Heart Sandwich



There’s nothing quite like a heart shaped sandwich on Valentine’s Day.  Maybe it’s a PB&J, a cucumber sandwich, or gooey grilled cheese, but whatever the filling it always tastes better when made with extra love! This cookie/sandwich cutter from Amazon even comes with a sealer to crimp the edges of the bread so it comes out looking like a special Valentine’s Uncrustable.


Strawberry Heart Pancakes


If you’re planning a Valentine’s Day breakfast, strawberry pancakes are my favorite pick. Check out Julie's Eats and Treats for a yummy and easy recipe. Once they’re cooked, just shape them into hearts using your cookie cutter.  You can serve them with whipped cream or ricotta cheese and extra strawberries on the side, or you can really dress them up with Homemade Strawberry Sauce. I like this sauce recipe because it’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar.  I also make it with only 3-4 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of the amount called for in the recipe and it still comes out perfectly sweet.


Tip:  To make these pancakes even easier, try making them with your favorite premade mix and simply add diced strawberries into the batter.  I love Simple Mills Almond Pancakes which happen to be gluten free, and Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Protein Pancakes which are comparable to Kodiak Power Cakes but contain no added sugar.

Valentine’s Day Heart Pop Tarts

For a fancy heart shaped dessert, try my recipe for Valentine’s Day Pop Tarts.  These are delicious any time of day but especially when they are warm and toasty right out of the oven.  They’re just the right size for little hands and can be easily packed in lunch boxes, but the best part is they’re super simple to make with just a few ingredients and won't leave your kitchen a mess! 

Valentine’s Day Pop Tart Recipe
Makes 5-8 Servings
INGREDIENTS
- 2 premade pie crusts, thawed if frozen
- 1 egg
- ½ cup strawberry jam or preserves
- ½ cup whipped cream cheese (optional)
- granulated sugar & powdered sugar for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, make an egg wash by whisking together the egg with 1 teaspoon of water and set aside.
3. Remove premade pie crusts from packaging and roll out to about 1/8 or 1/16 inch thickness.
4. Using your heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out an even amount of hearts onto each pie crust. I normally get at least 5 per crust, and then knead/roll them out again to form an additional 2-3 more hearts on each crust.
5. Line half of the hearts onto baking sheet and scoop a tablespoon of jam into center of each one. Optional: If you prefer more of a cheese danish taste, mix ½ cup of cream cheese with the ½ cup jam and scoop a single tablespoon of the jam/cheese mixture to the center of the hearts instead.
6. Brush the edges of the hearts with the egg wash. 
7. Using your miniature heart cutter, cut tiny hearts in the center of the remaining heart cutouts without the jam and place on top of the hearts with the jam.
8. Use a fork to seal the edges of each pop tart and then lightly brush the tops with the egg wash. Sprinkle with granulated or red/pink decorative sugar.
9. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool for 5 minutes before coating with powdered sugar using a fine mesh strainer and enjoy!

 
2. Do a Craft 


Doing some good old fashioned arts and crafts is perhaps the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day. It doesn't have to just be Valentine cards either. Pinterest is loaded with different ideas for decorations and crafts right now, but one of my favorite accounts to follow for crafting inspiration is Deena Keller's @abcdeelearning on Instagram. She posts some really great content for all different holidays and seasons and offers free printable templates on her website.

 
3. Listen to Love Jams


This Spotify playlist will get the whole family feeling lovey dovey whether you’re riding in the car or playing a game of freeze dance! Spotify - Valentine's Day Kid's Playlist

 
4. Decorate the House


Get your house looking festive with Valentine's Day decor or go all out with red and pink streamers and balloons. Be sure to let your kids help with the decorating - that's half the fun! I like to browse Dollar Tree and HomeGoods for decorations and Target has a good selection of Valentine’s Day paper goods like napkins, plates, cups etc. at low prices.


 
5. Read a Valentine’s Day Book

See below for my handpicked selections for every age group:

Baby


Toddler


Preschool


Kindergarten


Big Kids


 
6. Give a Small Gift


It's always fun to surprise your kids with a small gift to open on Valentine's Day. See below for some nice gift ideas in the $25 range or under for every age group:

Baby


Toddler


Preschool / Kindergarten


Big Kids


When in doubt, you can't go wrong with Dollar Tree trinket toys to stuff a gift bag. It may look like a lot of junk but then again sometimes those are kids’ favorite treasures.  Or instead of doing a tangible gift, maybe surprise your kids with passes to visit a special destination like an aquarium, museum or play center. Don’t forget to check in with your local library for discounted tickets!

 

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them I may make a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

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