Surprise your family with a Valentine box for Valentine’s Day
Have your younger children ever felt left out on Valentine’s Day because older children brought home Valentine’s cards and treats they received at school? Come in, fix the Valentine’s box! My mother created one when I was in elementary school because all the older kids brought home their Valentine’s treats and the younger siblings felt bad that they didn’t get any. It is a tradition that I have passed on to my children and they look forward to it every year.
Take a box of any size and decorate it with pink, red, or white paper or aluminum foil. Cut out hearts and glue them to your box. You can also use stickers, stamps, ribbons, whatever you have on hand, or even use purchased Valentine’s cards to adorn your box. Use your creativity and if you want to get your kids involved, do it. They can be quite creative and create a fun imaginative box. Punch a hole in the top to slide in the Valentine’s cards or use a removable lid box. That way, if Mom and Dad want to put books, small toys, or a variety of larger treats, like cookies, in the box, they can. Keep in mind though, if there is a removable lid, only Mom or Dad can put the Valentine’s cards in the box to keep the surprise until Cupid’s day. Have your kids give you the Valentine’s cards to put in the box.
If you have older children, it would be great to give them gift cards with five or ten dollars, car wash coupons or fast food coupons. Create a special Valentine for each of your children. Before Valentine’s Day, take stock of the Valentine’s cards and make sure everyone gets something. You could get really creative and create coupons that mom and dad give to each child, like spending time playing in the park, or playing catch, etc … you get the idea. You might even offer cooking, craft, or woodworking lessons. Something where you teach your child a skill that you know how to do and they have wanted to learn how to do it. That would be a gift that I would keep giving! Encourage your children to create Valentine’s cards for each other. They could also make “cupid” coupons for each other.
On Valentine’s Day, create a special meal with a Valentine’s theme. Then open the box after dinner. If you and your husband are going out for the night, make sure your children have a special dinner for the babysitter to serve your family and open the box before you leave. It will be a success! Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to cost a lot and they can be very creative as a family! A Valentine box is sure to add to your family memories and next year you will hear your kids begging for another box!