Valentine's Day Activities With Grandchildren
Historians have long argued how and why Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a “romantic” holiday. I don’t care since it gives me yet another reason (not that I need one!) to spend time with my grandkids, and there are tons of Valentine's Day activities to do with grandchildren.
In this article, I'm sharing my most favorite Valentine's Day activities with grandchildren, so you can enjoy them too.
Cook Breakfast Together
You can start the celebration at breakfast with heart-shaped French toast. All you need is a heart-shaped cookie cutter to get the fun started!
Take slices of bread and cut them with the cookie cutter. Then, dip them in an egg wash and cook in a frying pan. Put them on a plate and cover them with red berries and powdered sugar — yummy and colorful!
Make Cupcakes
These Valentine's parfait cupcakes are perfect to make with your grandkids and even send them to school with. I also add little Valentine’s Day conversation candies with sayings on them. These are easy to make and something all the kids will love!
Letter Painting
For years I’ve bought letters that spell out “I Love You.” The kids take washable paint and create masterpieces! We hang them in a special place in my home and each year we replace the previous year’s artwork.
It’s amazing to see how their skills change from year to year. They don’t know it, but I have kept everyone (I dated each of them) to show them when they get older — who knows, I may use them somehow in their weddings!
Finger Painting
I draw tree trunks and branches on a piece of construction paper and the kid's finger paints heart-shaped leaves on them. Once it’s dry, I help them write special things they want to tell their mom and dad.
Pasta Valentine
Here’s what you need:
- Construction paper or colorful paper stock.
- Heart-shaped pasta.
- Uncooked spaghetti (to make the stems).
- White craft glue.
- Crayon or colored pencil.
- Paintbrush.
- Newspaper.
Cover a flat surface with newspaper. Have the kids write (or draw) their messages on colored paper, then brush glue on one side of the pasta hearts with a paintbrush. Using the line drawings as a guide, attach pieces to the paper. Set aside to dry.
DIY Valentine’s Day Placemats
This is a great gift kids can give their parents or grandparents. For supplies, you’ll need:
- Glue or glue stick.
- Scrapbook paper.
- Scissors.
- re-cut hearts (cut out of scrapbook paper).
- Construction paper.
- Stickers.
- Doilies.
- Contact paper.
- Markers/crayons.
Pre-cut two equal pieces of contact paper in desired size for a place mat, and have the kids color and paste hearts on a piece of construction paper. Separate the backing from the contact paper and place the finished construction paper design on the sticky part of the contact paper.
Cut a border out of scrapbook paper and stick it on the sticky part of contact paper around construction paper. Separate the backing from the second piece of contact paper and stick it on top of the other contact paper. Seal together by pressing hard along the edges and cutting excess contact paper around the placemat.
Related Search Topics (Ads)
Scavenger Hunt
I also have a blast creating a scavenger hunt! I write clues on paper hearts, then hide them inside the house and out. The kids have to follow the clue which leads to a surprise gift or treat.
Dinner Made by Your Budding Chef
Try this pasta with no-cook tomato and bocconcini sauce, with sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a handful of your favorite chopped herbs.
Ingredients:
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes.
- 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves.
- 1/2 c. fresh basil leaves.
- 1/4 c. olive oil.
- 1 tsp. salt.
- 1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper.
- 1 clove garlic.
- 1 package penne or corkscrew pasta.
- 12 oz. small mozzarella balls (bocconcini).
In large serving bowl, stir cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil, oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Let stand at room temperature at least one hour or up to four hours to blend flavors.
Heat large covered sauce pot of salted water to boiling over high heat. Add pasta and cook as label directs and drain well. Add pasta to tomato mixture, toss with bocconcini and serve.
To make it themed, take red peppers, cut in heart shape designs and place on top.
Valentine’s Day Party
Let your grandchild invite some friends over for an after-school snack/crafts party. I make a load of tea sandwiches: white bread spread with cream cheese and strawberry jam, cut into heart shapes.
I serve them with apple juice or milk — and lots of cookies! For the crafts portion, I buy a lot of Valentine-themed sugar cookies, have pastry bags filled with pink, red and white icing, and let the kids go. They love their designs and have something to take home to their parents!
Do Something Charitable
While we’re having fun on Valentine’s Day, we also try to remember people who aren’t as fortunate. There are a lot of widows and widowers living near us, so we make extra cookies and cupcakes, the kids make a bunch of little cards with hearts and a nice saying, and we deliver them.
TV or Movie Marathon
One of the more fun Valentine's Day activities is a TV or movie marathon. After dinner, we all curl up on the sofas and start watching our favorite Valentine’s Day movies and TV shows. One of my all time favorites is Lady and the Tramp, but there are a ton to choose from — everything from Beauty and the Beast, to Wall-E, Shrek and A Charlie Brown Valentine.
Also, PBS is running a variety of kids' Valentine’s Day episodes starting February 10th, so you may want to check your local listings.
Nighttime Reading
I always keep a few Valentine’s Day books around to read on this special day. Some of my very favorites are: Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Llama Llama I Love You, Mr. Goat’s Valentine, and Love Is You and Me, all of which are available on Amazon.
Enjoy, and Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!