Valentine's Day is often associated with commercialism, and many people complain about its superficial nature. However, instead of ignoring it, it is worth giving it a deeper meaning and making it an occasion for celebration - just like a name day or any other holiday. It is a great time to express love, gratitude and talk about kindness and friendship. In the process, we can also see how our children feel and receive love.
Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the concept of "The 5 Love Languages", claims that everyone has a unique way of showing and receiving feelings. He distinguished five main love languages:
- Words of affirmation
- Small acts of kindness
- Presents
- Physical proximity
- Time spent together
Not sure which love language is closest to your child? Observe them and notice which gestures bring them the most joy. And if you're looking for Valentine's Day inspiration for the little ones, here are some ideas!
Words of affirmation
Children who enjoy verbal praise and expressions of affection love kind words and compliments. How can you make them happy?
- Create a poem based on his name.
- Tell him the story of the day he was born.
- Create a bracelet together with letters that form a nice message, such as "I love you."
Small acts of kindness
Some children feel loved when someone helps them or does something nice for them. You can:
- Prepare a special Valentine's Day breakfast, e.g. decorated toast.
- Bake heart cookies together or make heart-shaped pizza or pizza with heart-shaped toppings.
- Organize a family ritual, such as a morning cuddle to start the day off right.
Closeness
Kids who love to cuddle, touch, and play together will love these ideas:
- Valentine's Day movie and book evening under a blanket.
- Creating a secret family hug.
- Dancing together to your favorite songs.
Time spent together
For some children, attention and time together are the most important things. You can:
- Create Valentine's Day drawings or decorations together.
- Bake and decorate cookies in pink and red colors.
- Go for a family walk.
- Play at being little florists by arranging flower bouquets.
Presents
If your child loves receiving gifts, you can make him happy with a small gift:
- Handmade bracelet.
- A family photo album or a photo in a nice frame (children often love looking at their photos and carrying them around).
- Heart-shaped crayons.
Valentine's Day inspirations
Children love creative activities, so it's worth introducing inspiration into the fun:
- Flower arrangement – allows the child to feel responsible and develops a sense of aesthetics.
- Threading beads – great for developing fine motor skills.
- Creating mailboxes – teaches the importance of communication between people.
- Sealing cakes with molds – a combination of culinary fun and creativity.
- Valentine's Day embroidery – simple crafts from paper and yarn.
Love is the best gift!
Whether you choose creative play, culinary experiments or warm hugs, the most important thing is for your child to feel loved. Let Valentine's Day become not an occasion for giving gifts, but a day to celebrate closeness and shared moments.
What is your child's love language? Let us know in the comments!