Are you looking for a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids? Many parents today forego romantic dates and spend time with the kids on February 14th. Valentine’s Day can be fun no matter what you do, and often trying to get a sitter is hard enough, so why not enjoy it family style?

Here are some fun ways to celebrate with your family, whether your children are younger, tweens or even teens. No matter what, you can enjoy a family-style evening and be struck by cupid’s arrow at the same time.

●Make decorations together. Make your space a festive party house. From paper chains to cut-out hearts, you will treasure these forever particularly if you personalize them with lots of glitter, paint, and other crafty options.

●Prepare a special tea party. Little ones will enjoy this fun playful activity and may even bring some guests (in the form of stuffed animals). Serve Valentine-themed desserts and real or imagined tea depending on the age of your children.

●Break out the bubbly. Kids love to feel special. Give them a treat with sparkling cider in Champagne flutes. You can buy inexpensive flutes at the grocery store so they can clink away and your crystal is safe.

●Have a meal together. If you have teens, this might simply be a take-out pizza eaten while watching a movie in the living room. Or, you can go all out and make heart-shaped meatloaf and fun red velvet cake for dessert. Put your cell phones away, don’t worry about homework, and let the love flow.

●Cozy up for a family movie. You’ll find a lot of Valentine’s Day movie choices for kids whatever their age. Snuggle in for a movie with everyone. Pick something you all will love, grab a blanket, and enjoy.

●Be kind together. Do something for others as part of your celebration. Take homemade cards to a neighbor who is alone or deliver them to a nursing home. Think about ways you can give back and establish a family tradition.

●Play a board game. Most kids love board or card games and you can do this for all ages. It’s a great way to spend time together without using electronics.

●Make and decorate a Valentine’s Day House. This is your February version of the Christmas Gingerbread House. What fun to make and decorate a sugar-cookie house! Follow the recipe here and enjoy an easy DIY project with lots of creative fun and mini candies to munch on along the way.

●Read Valentine’s bedtime stories. If you still read to your children at night, choose a few Valentine’s Day stories. Don’t have any? Not to worry. Add to this fun activity with a trip to the library or order a few inexpensive books online. Your child will treasure the memory.

●Bring a friend. Teens and tweens may be interested in spending time with friends, so allow them to include a friend if they want. Closeness and family can include friendships as well as family members. It can be fun to have another person to help with a puzzle or to decorate a sugar house. Whatever works best for your family.

Whether you have small children, tweens or teens, if you are a parent and decide to do a family-style Valentine’s Day, these are some fun activities you can try this year. We hope you enjoy and establish family traditions for the years to come. Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day from our Barn Doorz family to yours.