Valentine’s Day isn’t a holiday that’s limited to just couples. It’s a day to celebrate everyone you love! I put together a list of kid-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday in 2023:
Attend a Local Event
(Note: I live in Bucks County, so most of the kid Valentine’s Day activities I have listed here are in the Bucks County area.)
On Friday, February 3 from noon to 3 p.m., you can bring your little one to Home on Main Lansdale for a make-and-take Valentine’s Day craft. The cost is $10 per painter (the child will be making a 5 x 7 canvas panel painting – even little ones can do it!) Each painter will also be able to make a Valentine card for a senior living at Traditions of Lansdale. All proceeds for to Marvin’s Home, a non-profit for young people aging out of foster care. Sign up HERE.
If your child is the theatrical type, take them on a Valentine date to Music Mountain Theatre in Lambertville. The Secret Garden is playing February 3 – February 19 with 8 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Make a reservation at Uno Pizzeria & Grill on February 7 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Kids eat free with purchase of adult meal, and there will be Valentine’s Day cookie decorating.
Kids ages 5-12 can do a Valentine’s Day Craft at the Bristol Township Senior Center on February 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Holiday Craft Class costs $5 for residents, $7 for non-residents. Register at bristolpa.myrec.com.
Playpad is hosting a Valentine’s Day party with a special visit from Skye from Paw Patrol! Thursday, February 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be a craft, decor for photos, pizza and juice. Tickets are $35 per child, $30 for siblings and $5 for adults. Call 267-568-2348 to reserve you spot.
Color Me Mine at Oxford Valley Mall is hosting two Valentine’s Day events: Mother and Son Night on February 9 and Daddy Daughter Date Night on February 10. $10 covers the studio fee for each part-child duo. Additional child is $5. Then you pay for whatever you decide to paint that day. Make your reservation HERE.
Romp n Roll Willow Grove is having two Valentine’s Sweetheart Ball events on Friday, February 10. The first event is 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the second is 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. This is a parent and child event with a craft, moonbounce, gym activities and bubble dance party. Tickets are $35 for Members, $40 for Non Members. Parents are free.
Painting with a Twist in Bensalem will have a Valentine’s Day Family Class on Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $29 per person, and the painting is Baby Groot with a Valentine’s Day twist.
Chatter Splatter in Eagleville is hosting a Muffins with Minnie event on Saturday, February 11 with a special visit from Minnie Mouse! Tickets are $20 for the first child, $15 for sibling, $5 for adults and include mimosas (and other drinks), muffins (and other food), a craft, and 2 hours of play at this indoor playground space. The 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. tickets are already sold out, so hurry if you want to book the noon to 2 p.m. session.
Mom’s Cookie Bar in Doylestown is hosting Valentine’s Day Afternoon Dates for a special person/child on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and February 12. Tickets are $49 for each parent/child duo. Additional guest is $20. The event includes a reservation for seating in the upstairs party room, choice of craft for the child, 2 ice cream/milkshake treats, and choice of 2 Valentine cookie bars. Each seating is 30 minutes. Sign up HERE.
Southampton Free Library is hosting a day of Valentine’s Day Crafts on Saturday, February 11 starting at 10 a.m. Drop by for crafts and fun.
Sesame Place is hosting My Fuzzy Valentine’s Dine events on February 11 and February 12. The park will be closed, but you can make a reservation to enjoy a buffet meal, dance party with Elmi, Abby, Grover and Cookie Monster, and a Valentine’s Day craft. Make reservations HERE.
Grundy Library in Bristol Borough is having a Storybook Character Love-Fest Program on Monday, February 13 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. There will be stories featuring characters like Pete the Cat, Thomas the Train, and Peppa, plus crafts and songs. Best for ages 3-5, but all ages are welcome. No registration required.
Several of the Bucks County Libraries have storytimes listed on the calendar for February 14. They don’t have details posted on if it’ll be holiday themed, but I’d say there’s a good chance. And even if it’s not, you could always stop by the event and then pick out some love-themed children’s books.
This is the day … la la la la … Valentine’s Day! Elmo will be making a special visit to We Rock the Spectrum on February 14 between 10 a.m and noon. Come in for a craft, open play and see Elmo! Call 215-904-6280 to make a reservation. $20 per child.
Children 5 years and up can make a heart-shaped unicorn pillow at Inspiring Synergy in Warrington on February 14 at 4 p.m. The cost is $18 per child. Registration required.
Grounds for Sculpture has a special light show running now nightly Thursday through Sunday. Last year they added Valentine’s Day, but I don’t see it on the calendar for this year. You could still make this a fun family date night the weekend before Valentine’s Day by pairing it with dinner and/or dessert before or after seeing the lights. You must purchase tickets in advance online.
While not Valentine’s Day themed, the new Disney 100-year celebration exhibit opens at The Franklin Institute on February 18! (Maybe “gift” your favorite little Disney fan reservations for the weekend after V-Day!)
Take a baking class with your child at Silly Spoons in Newtown. On Saturday, February 18, there are two sessions (noon and 4 p.m.) of You & Me Strawberry Bundts for children ages 3 and up with an adult. Tickets are $70 for each parent/child duo. Extra seat is $15. Book it HERE.
Make a Special Breakfast
Make heart-shaped pancakes or waffles, drink pink strawberry milk instead of regular, or use a cookie cutter to make heart-shaped toast. We have a waffle maker similar to THIS ONE that makes 5 mini heart waffles, and we love it.
If you need a few more ideas, try these recipes from Pinterest:
Valentine’s Day Funfetti Pancakes with Vanilla Yogurt Sauce
How to Make Heart Shaped Bacon
Easy Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
Or, pick up some favorites from a local spot!
(I’ll add in some suggestions as I see them!)
Have a Hot Chocolate Date
Hot chocolate is always a winter favorite. Make a point to sit down with your kids and sip a mug in honor of Valentine’s Day. For a festive touch, get pink marshmallows or add some sprinkles.
You could also order or make Hot Cocoa Bombs!
Go Out to Lunch
If you’re able to, taking your little ones on a lunch date can be a fun way to celebrate the holiday, and restaurants are typically less crowded. (Especially when it’s a Monday like this year.) We’ve spent many Valentine’s Day lunches at Nifty Fifty’s sharing a Reese’s Cup milkshake!
Plan a Movie Night
When you think of Valentine’s Day movies, you probably think of rom-coms that kids might not appreciate. But there are actually lots of cute movies that carry the theme of love but are still family-friendly. Consider Lady in the Tramp, Shrek, Beauty & the Beast, Gnomeo & Juliet, or Enchanted. Mix some Valentine’s-Day colored M&Ms in your bowl of popcorn for a sweet and salty snack that’s perfect for the occasion. Or try this recipe for Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies.
Bake a Special Treat Together
A lot of kids love to help in the kitchen! Instead of just giving your kids candy, make a special treat together. They’ll love knowing that they helped make the dessert the family will enjoy that night.
I’ll try to add more recipes to the blog soon, but for now:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
And here are a few recipe ideas from Pinterest:
White Chocolate Valentine Fudge
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
And if you’d rather let the pros do the actual baking, try a decorating kit.
Try calling your favorite local bakery to see if they offer kits.
Spa/Party Bath
My kids love bathtime and they get excited any time I add something different to make it special. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to throw in a few easy extras. Dollar Tree has Valentine’s Day-themed bath sponges. We love the Crayola bath paint (try Target Dollar Spot for the best price). You can even put in a bit of red food coloring to turn the water pink. (It’ll be so diluted that it won’t stain skin or tub.) Or throw in a few pink or red glow sticks and turn out the light!
Valentine’s Day Mani-Pedis
Sure, you can take your little one out for a pro paint job, but it can be just as fun to do them at home! Let her pick out the color (the sparkly the better) and give her a little pampering.
Make Cards or Another Craft
This is an activity that you might want to get a head start on before the holiday, so you can decorate your home, get them in the mail or make some deliveries! (But really, there’s no expiration date on telling people you love them!) Help your kids make cards for grandparents, teachers, or anyone else special in their life. One of my favorite go-to crafts for the kids is to get small wrapped canvases and create holiday themed paintings that we then hang up during the season. A few years ago, I got heart and “LOVE” bath sponges from Dollar Tree that were great for this. After they used the sponges to paint, they took them in the bathtub.
Here are a few ideas from Pinterest:
Fingerprint Heart Valentine’s Day Tree
Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Animals
Printable Valentine’s Day Cards to Color
Read a Love-Themed Book Together
I get my kids new books for just about every occasion. They have tons of books in their rooms, but I usually have a little basket in addition to their bookcase that I switch out seasonally. By getting them each a new book for each holiday, we have a great little collection. There are cute books out there about Valentine’s Day, but you could also just get a book focused on love – especially love between a parent and child!
Here are a few suggestions:
Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter
Little People Valentine’s Day Is Here
And if you’re looking for an activity book, we love these Sticker Doodle books. (They’re GREAT if you’re going to a restaurant or somewhere that you need to keeps the kids busy, quiet and contained!)
Eat a Special Kid-Friendly Dinner
There are plenty of options for this! Let the kids pick their favorite foods. Make dinner together, and have them think of foods that are red to go with the theme. Or, use heart-shaped cookie cutters whenever possible! I do this with toast, cheese, apples, and more. A set like THIS one is great because it has a variety of sizes.
Pick up (or make) pizza dough and shape it into a heart. Or, let the pros do it and see if your favorite local spot offers heart pizzas for Valentine’s Day. Piccolo Trattoria, Angelo’s in Doylestown and Southampton, Faraco’s in Quakertown, Guissepe’s in Richboro, Nico’s in New Britain, Parma John’s in Souderton, and Vincenzo’s in Bensalem are just a few that have done it in the past.
And while I haven’t seen them yet this year, I was able to get a premade heart-shaped pizza from Aldi last year! I DID, however, see the heart-shaped pasta at Aldi already in January.
Have a Dance Party
Make a special playlist of silly songs about love and let loose!
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Sweet Mini Moments 