When my daughter was born, I asked my friends with children for ideas of traditions they'd established in their homes. Here are three Valentine's Day traditions friends have shared with me that I love:
 Michelle Holly | Macaroni KID Winter Garden-Ocoee, Fla. |
An a-door-able door decorating idea
Begin this heartwarming tradition on February 1st and continue it through February 14th. Each day, tape a paper heart to your child's bedroom door, with a message of love and appreciation written on it. These messages can highlight their unique qualities, express your love, or acknowledge their achievements. Your child will love reading and hearing your kind words. Leave each paper heart on the door, and by Valentine's Day, you'll have fourteen paper hearts posted!
When you're ready to take the hearts down, glue them on a piece of construction paper to make a heart collage for your child to keep.
Some modifications and tips:
- Color code: Children sharing a room? Consider color-coding the hearts for each child.
- Prep ahead: Have all fourteen hearts written out before February 1st to ensure you don't miss a day.
- Remember what's important: Fold the paper in half and cut out a heart free-style. Perfection doesn't matter! It will be the words that make a lasting impression.
 |  |
Michelle Holly | Macaroni KID Winter Garden-Ocoee, Fla.
Homemade Valentines
Do you have children who love to paint? Whenever we craft, my daughter's first request is paint, so we often incorporate it into our craft time.
Here are three ideas to make homemade Valentine cards, perfect for sharing with family, friends, and acquaintances on Valentine's Day. Last year, my daughter loved giving cards out to the cashier at the store, the librarian when we went to story time, and her friends and family members. I love that she is learning to be kind and thoughtful.
What you'll want on hand:
- Construction paper in Valentine's colors
- Paint in Valentine's colors
- Circle-shaped sponge brush, or cotton balls/paint markers/paint dot pens
- Rolling sponge brush with a pattern
- Heart-shaped sponge for painting
- Glue and scissors
Three options:
1. Cut a heart out of paper. Use painter's tape to secure it in place on a second piece of paper. Use a round-shaped sponge brush dipped in paint to make dots all around the paper heart. Once dry, remove the paper heart to reveal a heart-shaped blank space on the card.
2. A favorite tool of my daughter's is the rolling sponge brush. Let your child use a rolling sponge brush to apply paint, perhaps with added glitter, onto a large piece of construction paper. After drying, you can cut this into four pieces for four unique card fronts.
3. Dip a heart-shaped sponge into paint and sponge it on the front of a blank card. (You can use a pre-cut heart-shaped sponge or cut out a heart shape from a clean sponge!)
A heart-y breakfast
Serves 2
I love this idea of surprising my daughter with a fun, healthy, and cute breakfast on Valentine's Day! This fun heart-shaped egg and toast is easy to make and is sure to get a giggle from my girl on Valentine's morning.
What you'll need:
- 4 eggs
- 4 slices of bread
- Butter
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
Directions:
- Butter both sides of the bread and then cut a heart shape out with the cookie cutter.
- Place the bread in the pan and drop an egg into the heart-shaped hole.
- Let the egg cook and brown the bread on the first side, then flip to cook the other side.
- Plate so that the side with the best-looking heart is up, and include a few heart-shaped sprinkles for a fun pop of color!
Michelle Holly is the publisher of Macaroni KID Winter Garden-Ocoee, Fla.
