Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Here are 14 simple and easy gestures to show your family you love them this year. We’re doing all 14—how about you?
image: Getty/Sam Diephuis
More Family Activities for Valentine’s Day:
- Valentine’s Day Outfits for the Whole Family
- Little Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Family Every Day
- DIY Valentine’s Stay at Home Dinner
14 Easy Ways to Show Your Family Extra Love Leading Up to Valentine's Day
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1. Make Heart-Shaped Meals
Cook heart-shaped pancakes for a family breakfast by using a special pancake/egg ring like this, or a heart-shaped pan like this.
image: Getty/Lynn Seeden
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2. Leave them a love note in the bathroom mirror.
Draw a heart or write a love note to your spouse or kids with lipstick, a lip pencil, or even in the steam after a shower.
image: Getty/Peter Hermus
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3. Pack their favorite lunch for school or work.
Whether it's a simple PB&J, or an elaborate homemade sushi roll, packing your loved one's favorite dinner shows them you put extra thought into their meal.
image: Getty/Vanessa Davies
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4. Send them a valentine in the mail.
Kids love to get mail, and your spouse will be surprised to find love from you there too!
image: Getty/Mypurgatoryyears
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5. Take them on a special date.
Plan a special outing, just you and your kid. If you have more than one child, try to have a one-on-one date with each at different times so you can give them special, undivided attention. If you still have energy left, try to get a sitter and go on a date with your spouse too.
image: Getty/images by Tang Ming Tung
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6. Plan a family date night.
If it's too hard to get one-on-one time with each member of the family, why not surprise them with a family date night? Pick a movie everyone would love, make some popcorn, and cuddle on the couch together.
image: Getty/Martin Barraud
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7. Have a red or pink dinner.
Make a meal that's all red in honor of Valentine's Day. Your kids will have fun helping you think of red or pink things to eat!
image: Getty/foodandstyle
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8. Say yes for a day.
Say yes to whatever they want to do for one day. Cookies for breakfast? Yes! Play games on the iPad? Yes! Read an extra book at bedtime? Yes!
image: Getty/Hello Lovely
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9. Give extra cuddles.
Does your kid always ask you to lie down with them at bedtime or nap time? Give them extra cuddles. (If your child tends to take a mile when given an inch, explain you're giving five extra minutes of cuddle time, just this once, and cross your fingers it works!)
image: Getty/Ronnie Kaufman/Larry Hirshowitz
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10. Play hooky.
Just once, let them skip out on a day of school or other obligation and do something extra special: a visit to Disneyland, breakfast in bed, or a day at the beach!
image: Getty/Hello Lovely
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11. Make bath time extra fun.
Instead of rushing through the bath to get the kids to bed, break out the bath toys and bubbles and make it extra fun.
image: Getty/Timothy L. Tichy
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12. Release them from chores.
Give the kids a reprieve from their daily chores. Just this once.
image: Getty/Cultura/Henglein and Steets
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13. Bake them their favorite treat.
Give them some sugar by giving them some sugar! Bake some cookies, brownies, or Rice Krispie treats---whatever their favorite may be. Bonus points for making them heart shaped!
image: Getty/J Shepherd
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14. Tell them you love them.
You may say it a little or a lot already, but make a point to say "I love you" more often than usual. And don't forget to say it to your spouse as well.
image: Getty/Amelia Kay Photography
