Valentine’s Day is one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year for children and their families. It also happens to be one of the most creative—it’s chock full of inspiration for fun activities, crafts, treats, and celebrations. As you look forward to February 14 this year, consider spending some creative one-on-one time with your kids by trying out some of these love-ly ideas.

Decorate for Valentine Morning
        Start the day off in a fun way by decorating your child’s room (or an entire room…or the entire house!) with Valentine’s Day decorations. Hang pink, red, and white balloons and streamers throughout the rooms, hang up banners that welcome the day, or make a door sign that proclaims “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Then send your child (and spouse) off for the day with a themed breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes and strawberry smoothies.

Make a Homemade Valentine Candy Card
        If you and your child want an option other than store-bought cards to exchange with school friends, consider making your own at home. While there are plenty of ways to make cards, one of the most fun is to use candy as a starting point. Some fun ideas include: start with a candy bar and wrap it with paper printed with a themed message (“You’re the SWEETEST friend,” “Hugs and Kisses!” “Your friendship is worth 100 thousand dollars,” and so forth); attach a note to Valentine’s Day themed Peep that says, “Happy Valentine’s Day to my peeps!”; or attach a note to a lollipop that says, “I’m a sucker for your friendship.”

Make a Homemade Card Holder
        Your child will want a snazzy place to collect Valentine’s Day cards, so why not help her make one herself? Take a shoe box (top and bottom) and decorate it in any number of ways: paint it with acrylic paint (then decorate with stickers), wrap with Valentine-themed gift wrap, or use crayons or magic markers to color it. (This can also be done with a cereal box, cardboard craft box, or oatmeal tube.)

Make Valentine’s Day Marshmallow Pops
        One of our favorite treats to make at holiday time is a themed marshmallow pop; my daughters and I have made them for Christmas, the Fourth of July, even Halloween, but some of the cutest emerge at Valentine’s Day. Insert lollipop sticks (available in any crafting section) into marshmallows, then dip into melted white chocolate. Before chocolate hardens, decorate the coated marshmallows with Valentine’s Day sprinkles, candied sugar, and assorted pink and red candies. Then display the pops by pushing them into a piece of floral foam.

Have a “You’re So Sweet” Party
        Host a perfectly-themed party that celebrates all the sweet people in your life—either for your family, or for a group of your child’s friends. Have a candy buffet with pink and red treats (lollipops, gumballs, foiled chocolates), and also serve Valentine’s Day cupcakes (better yet, let the party guests decorate their own), marshmallow pops, chocolate covered pretzels, and any of your other favorite sweet treats. Top the treats off with a yummy Valentine Punch (a red tropical punch mixed with raspberry sherbet). Be sure to decorate with appropriately themed paper goods, tablecloths, and centerpieces.

Have a Valentine’s Day Book Bash
        What better way is there to bond with your child than to read together? Take your child to the local library and select several Valentine-themed books to check out, then use the week before the holiday as a chance to read a book together every night. Some of my favorite books include Jack Prelutsky’s It’s Valentine’s Day, Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You?, Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand, Vivian Walsh’s Olive My Love, and Eileen Spinelli’s Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.

Have a Valentine’s Day Movie Marathon
        Another wonderful family activity is a movie marathon…this time, with Valentine’s Day-themed movies that your kids will love. Cover your floor with sleeping bags and pillows, then put a kid-friendly movie into the DVD player (suggestions: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown; Mickey and Minnie’s Sweetheart Stories; Winnie the Pooh, a Valentine for You). Don’t forget the popcorn!

Pack a Valentine’s Day Lunch
        My daughter, Sydney, loves to receive special treats and notes in her lunchbox; I bet your child does too! During the week of Valentine’s Day, pack your child’s lunchbox with fun, themed items such as heart-shaped sandwiches (simply use a heart cookie cutter), strawberries, heart-shaped cookies, pink lemonade, and (of course!) love notes to make your child feel extra-special.

        It only takes a little bit of time and effort to make Valentine’s Day—and every day—special.

Cheryl Sloan Wray is the mother of three daughters, and finds ways to celebrate every day.