Let’s be real. Valentine’s Day with kids can sometimes feel like a sugar-fueled frenzy of store-bought cards and candy-coated chaos. But what if this year was different? What if you traded the overwhelm for genuine connection and creativity that your little ones will actually remember? We’ve got you covered. Forget the generic stuff; these 21 valentines activities for kids are all about making memories, one adorable, messy, and heart-filled project at a time.
1. Heart-Shaped Pancake Breakfast
Kick off the day with a breakfast that screams “I love you!” in the most delicious way possible. All you need is your favorite pancake batter and a metal cookie cutter. Grease the inside of the heart-shaped cutter, place it on your hot griddle, and pour the batter inside.
Watch your kids’ eyes light up when you reveal the perfect, fluffy heart. Top them with pink whipped cream, red berries, or a drizzle of strawberry syrup for the ultimate festive touch. It’s a simple trick that transforms an ordinary morning into a special occasion.
2. DIY Valentine’s Day Mailboxes
Every Valentine needs a place to land! Grab some old shoeboxes, paper bags, or empty tissue boxes and let your kids go wild. Provide construction paper, doilies, stickers, glitter glue, and markers. The goal is to create a personalized mailbox for each child.
Throughout the day, family members can secretly deliver homemade valentines, little notes of appreciation, or tiny treats. This activity builds anticipation and teaches kids about the joy of giving and receiving heartfelt messages.
3. “Love Potion” Science Experiment
Unleash your little mad scientists with a fizzy, colorful love potion! Fill a clear vase or jar with vinegar and add a few drops of red food coloring. Give your kids a tray of baking soda and let them use spoons, eyedroppers, or even heart-shaped molds to add it to the potion.
The chemical reaction creates an exciting fizz and bubble overflow that feels like pure magic. It’s a fantastic, hands-on way to mix a STEM activity with Valentine’s Day fun.
4. Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt
Turn your living room into an adventure zone with a love-themed scavenger hunt. Create clues that lead from one hidden heart to the next. For non-readers, use picture clues. “Find something that is the color of a strawberry” or “Look where we keep the cold milk.”
The final clue can lead to a small treasure, like a new book or a family coupon for a movie night. This activity gets kids moving, thinking, and super excited about what comes next.
5. Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder Craft
Spread the love to your feathered friends! This classic craft gets a Valentine’s upgrade. Have your kids spread peanut butter or sunflower seed butter onto heart-shaped pieces of bread or pinecones.
Then, let them press birdseed all over the sticky surface. Tie a piece of string or ribbon through a hole at the top, and hang your edible valentines from tree branches. It’s a sweet way to talk about caring for nature.
6. Read-Aloud Love-Themed Story Time
Create a cozy reading nook with all the pillows and blankets you can find. Gather a stack of books that celebrate love and friendship—think classics like “Guess How Much I Love You” or “The Day It Rained Hearts.”
Make it extra special with a “reading fort” and some warm cocoa. This quiet activity is the perfect calm amidst the day’s excitement and reinforces the theme of love in a gentle, relatable way.
7. Cookie Decorating Extravaganza
Bake a big batch of heart-shaped sugar cookies beforehand, or pick up some undecorated ones from the store. Set up a decorating station with multiple bowls of pink, red, and white icing, and an assortment of sprinkles, edible glitter, and candy hearts.
This is one of those valentines activities for kids that embraces the mess. The best part? You get delicious, custom-made treats at the end. It’s a win-win.
8. Heart-Shaped Rock Painting
Go on a nature walk to find smooth, flat rocks. Once you have your canvas, break out the acrylic paints and fine-tip brushes. Encourage your kids to paint the rocks with hearts, kind messages like “You Rock!,” or fun patterns.
These painted kindness rocks make wonderful gifts for neighbors, or you can keep them as garden decorations. They’re a little piece of handmade love that lasts.
9. DIY Scented Playdough
Homemade playdough is always a hit, but scented Valentine’s playdough is next-level. Whip up a batch of red or pink dough and add a few drops of strawberry or cherry extract. You can even mix in a pinch of glitter for some sparkle.
Provide heart-shaped cookie cutters and let your kids sculpt, smash, and create to their hearts’ content. It’s a fantastic sensory activity that will keep them occupied for ages.
10. “Things I Love About You” Chain
This is a powerful visual of family love. Cut strips of red, pink, and white construction paper. Sit down together and on each strip, write one thing you love about a family member. “I love your laugh,” “I love how you help your sister,” etc.
Then, loop and glue the strips together to form a long paper chain. Hang it in a doorway or across the ceiling. It serves as a beautiful, tangible reminder of all the little reasons your family is awesome.
11. Valentine’s Day Bingo
Create custom bingo cards filled with Valentine’s Day-themed images: a cupid, a heart, a rose, a box of chocolates, the number 14, etc. Use conversation hearts or red pom-poms as markers.
This is a perfect game for a family game night or a small party. It’s easy, engaging, and helps with image recognition for younger kids. Who doesn’t love shouting “BINGO!”?
12. Heart-Shaped Pizza Party
Take dinner to a whole new level of cute. Use pre-made pizza dough or a pre-baked crust. Let your kids spoon on the sauce and sprinkle the cheese. Then, carefully mold the pizza into a heart shape before baking.
You can also use a heart-shaped cookie cutter on individual mini-pizzas. It makes for a fun, interactive dinner that everyone will gobble up. Bonus points for adding pepperoni hearts!
13. Freeze Dance with Love Songs
Crank up a playlist of kid-friendly love songs—think “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” or “Happy.” Play a lively game of freeze dance where everyone has to stop when the music pauses.
It’s a fantastic way to burn off energy and share plenty of laughs. Seeing your kids bust a move to a cheesy love ballad? Priceless.
14. Gratitude Jar Decoration
Find a clean, empty jar. Spend an afternoon decorating it with ribbons, heart stickers, and the words “Our Family Gratitude Jar.” Cut a stack of small paper slips and place them next to the jar with a pen.
Encourage everyone to write down things they are thankful for about each other and drop them in the jar. Read them together on Valentine’s Day (or any day!) to fill your home with positive vibes.
15. Heart-Themed Obstacle Course
Use pillows, hula hoops, and chairs to create an indoor or backyard obstacle course. Give it a Valentine’s twist! They have to crawl through the “Tunnel of Love,” hop from one heart-shaped pillow to another, and carry a conversation heart on a spoon without dropping it.
This is one of the most active valentines activities for kids and is guaranteed to result in giggles and healthy tiredness.
16. Fingerprint Heart Art
This is a keepsake you’ll treasure forever. On a piece of nice cardstock or canvas, help your child make two fingerprints side-by-side in red or pink paint, pointing downward. Use a marker to connect them at the bottom, forming a perfect heart.
You can create a whole tree of fingerprint hearts or a simple bouquet. Write their name and the date on it. It’s a beautiful, personal piece of art that captures a moment in time.
17. “Red” Sensory Bin
For the younger crowd, a Valentine’s sensory bin is a must. Fill a plastic bin with red kidney beans, pink rice, or red water beads. Hide small plastic hearts, spoons, cups, and tweezers inside.
Kids can scoop, pour, and search for treasures, developing fine motor skills while they play. Just lay down a towel first—this one can get a little messy!
18. DIY Valentine’s Day Cards
Move beyond the drugstore cards and encourage your kids to make their own. Set up a craft station with cardstock, markers, stamps, and collage materials. Help them write a personal message inside for grandparents, friends, or teachers.
This activity fosters creativity and emphasizes the thought behind a gift, making the valentines they give out so much more meaningful.
19. Heart Hopscotch
Get some fresh air with a festive twist on a classic game. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a hopscotch board, but make the squares heart-shaped instead. You can even write a different loving action in each square, like “Give a hug” or “Say something kind.”
It’s a simple way to take the fun outdoors and get those little legs moving.
20. Love-Themed Movie Marathon
After a day full of activities, everyone needs to unwind. Queue up a selection of feel-good, love-themed movies. Think “Lady and the Tramp,” “WALL-E,” or “Up.”
Create a comfy pillow pit on the floor, pop some popcorn, and maybe even add a few red M&M’s to the mix. It’s the perfect, cozy way to end your celebration.
21. “Heart Attack” Your Front Door
This is a family favorite. Cut out a massive pile of paper hearts in all different sizes and colors. Together, cover the inside of your front door with them, writing things you love about your family on each one.
Every time someone leaves or enters the house, they’re greeted by a burst of love and positivity. It’s a beautiful, constant reminder of your family bond that lasts the entire season.
See? Valentine’s Day with kids doesn’t have to be about expensive gifts or a sugar coma. It’s about those moments of connection—the messy hands in cookie icing, the concentration during a craft, the laughter during a silly game. These 21 valentines activities for kids are your toolkit for creating a day filled with more love and less stress. So pick a few, grab your supplies, and get ready to make some heartwarming memories. After all, the best part of Valentine’s Day is celebrating the little people who have your whole heart. ❤️