Follow along as I talk you through 10 of the best family Valentine’s Day ideas for families with kids of all ages who want to improve their intimacy this Valentine’s Day.
Last Updated: 11/11/24
Creating and maintaining fun holiday traditions for your family to participate in every year is one of the best ways to create closeness in the home.
Our family holiday traditions stick with us our whole lives and keep our families close to our minds and hearts during certain tough times of the year. As a first time mom, I’ve been thinking about family traditions constantly trying to figure out how to incorporate them into my new family.
When I went on the hunt for family Valentine’s Day ideas, I was so disappointed in what I found. It was the same suggestions over and over that were either superficial (buy expensive things and shower your family with gifts!) or lame and cliche (make every single food you eat that day red and heartshaped!)
These aren’t the kinds of traditions I’m looking to start in my home. I want traditions that are EASY to carry out, but that encourage building intimacy with one another.
ESPECIALLY on Valentine’s Day, the day of love!
These family Valentine’s Day ideas are perfect for any family with kids from infancy to the teenage years. They don’t require buying things and they shouldn’t take too much persuading for participation.
I thought so long and hard about all of these to make sure they were heartwarming traditions that would last your family many years to come.
Here are my 10 Family Valentine’s Day Ideas to encourage love and intimacy in your home!
Related to Family Valentine’s Day Ideas:
- Galentine’s Brunch Decor Ideas
- Screen Time Rules to Improvement Engagement with Your Child
- Family Traditions for New Years Eve
1. Love Language Testing
Source: Spirit Vibez
Have everyone in the family take this quiz to determine what their primary love languages are.
Knowing your family’s love languages is so important when trying to establish healthy family intimacy.
We all give and receive love very differently and it’s easy to be misunderstood when two people have differing love languages.
Testing everyone’s love language and reading OUT LOUD the characteristic of those love languages will help everyone in your family better understand each other and know how to show appreciation.
2. Family Date Jar
This is a fun Valentine’s Day activity that will bear fruit for your family for months to come.
Encourage everyone to think of what their ideal day with the family would look like. Once they have it visualizes, have them write it down on a slip of paper and put into a jar.
Keep this jar on a visible shelf space so throughout the year when you have free time with your family, you can pull a family date idea from out of the jar to use.
3. Kids Plan Date for Mom and Dad
It is easy for mom and dad to prioritize making holidays special for their families, but it is just as important that they take the time to show their love and appreciation to the person they created the family with.
Get your kids involved in your marriage in a healthy way and be an example to them of how they should be treating their significant others later in life.
Have your kids plan a romantic date for mom and dad (with the details remaining unknown to mom and dad as much as possible.) This encourages them to communicate and work together to show love.
The kids will have a blast putting something together and I bet they surprise you with how wonderful their ideas are.
4. Anonymous Valentine’s at Dinner
It can be really challenging to find ways to be open and vulnerable with your family.
Oftentimes, you all think nice and encouraging things about each other, but struggle to vocalize it and make your feelings known.
Use Valentine’s Day as the day to get all of the warm fuzzies out in the open. Use an anonymous question and answer software like AskFM to have everyone submit anonymous compliments before dinner.
I think you’ll be surprised at how kind and loving everyone can be to each other with the comfort of anonymity.
5. Movie and Matching Snack
Movie nights were always my favorite way to bond with my family so I always have to recommend them as family Valentine’s Day ideas.
Pick a family friendly romcom like Shrek or 50 First Dates and make it your fam’s new VDay tradition movie.
Movie traditions are more fun with a matching snack and the more random the snack, the better it is for a holiday tradition.
I think random tradition snacks are so funny so feel free to think outside of the box and make it something unexpected like deviled eggs or hot cheetos.
6. New Year’s Resolution Update
Take a moment with your family to share updates on how everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions are going so far.
Everyone will be just over a month in to the new year which is when New Year’s resolutions are the most vulnerable.
Ask how you can support your family members in their goals and what it would look like for you to get involved.
Having your family in support of the dreams you’re chasing can make all the difference in achievement.
7. Breakfast in ONE Bed
Especially if your kids are still small, I think this is one of the cutest family Valentine’s Day ideas.
Make a big yummy breakfast filled with heart shaped pancakes and fried eggs, then invite everyone in the house to share it in the same bed!
Memories like the ones you’ll create with these family Valentine’s Day ideas are guaranteed to last a lifetime.
8. Valentine’s Ding Dong Ditch
Okay so it doesn’t actually have to be authentic ding dong ditching, but buy a pack of Valentine’s Cards and have your kids drop them in the neighbor’s mailboxes.
This is a great way to build up their confidence and be an example of how to spread kindness to those around you.
Plus, it will probably be hilarious watching everyone nervously run up and down you’re street dropping off cards in mailboxes!
9. Favorite Meal Mealtime
If you’re family is anything like mine was growing up, then trying to find a meal that everyone is “craving” or excited to eat was nearly impossible.
Make Valentine’s Day the ONE day of the year where you offer to make everyone’s favorite foods for dinner.
Food is one of the best ways to show love and by honoring everyone’s hunger wishes, you’ll make their hearts swell.
10. Apply What You’ve Learned
At the end of the day when everyone is wrapping up and getting ready to go to bed, bring your mind back to the portion of the day where you tested everyone’s love languages.
Remind yourself what everyone’s primary love language was, and think of a small gesture that falls within the realm of their love language to show them some authentic love before bed.
The best way to make your family member’s feel seen, loved, and appreciated, is to know exactly how to love them to make them feel their best.
If their love language is words of affirmation, grant them some kind words thanking them for their participation throughout the day. If it’s physical touch, give them an extra long hug before bed.
I think this is the perfect example of family Valentine’s Day ideas that will help your family come closer together and create loving habits.
Related to Family Valentine’s Day Ideas:
- Galentine’s Brunch Decor Ideas
- Screen Time Rules to Improvement Engagement with Your Child
- Family Traditions for New Years Eve
