Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids

My 5 year old little boy is a lady’s man.  Much like his most recent report card says, “Mac has a lot of street smarts”, my little man knows Valentine’s Day is a big week for him…

It all started when he was a baby and would smile and coo when a beautiful blonde would hold him. It quickly turned into the girls he had a crush on he would chase on the play ground. Now the teachers are pulling me aside because classmates are handing him marriage proposals. Much like his most recent report card says, “Mac has a lot of street smarts”, my little man knows Valentine’s Day is a big week for him.

We have our Lightening McQueen race card valentines picked out, our shoe box wrapped and perfectly decorated to show he is excited, without too much ornamentation that says he is overly-excited. He has been practicing writing his name so he can show off his penmanship to his lady friends. But the biggest trick he has in his arsenal is a Mom who is a chef. Nothing says “can I chase you around the playground?” like a homemade treat.

I am proud to say I let my kids into the kitchen a lot. My 2-year-old knows how to crack eggs without getting shells in the bowl, my 5-year-old knows how to handle a KitchenAid.  And, perhaps most importantly, both of them know how to behave around heat. Their palates are very simple, anything dipped in chocolate is better, but here are my favorite treats that we are going to create to share with my little boy’s crushes:

Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids

Candy Heart Cupcakes. You can’t get through 2/14 without at least 1 candy heart.  There is something about a tiny piece of candy that says “I Heart You” that makes you smile.  That said, as the the clock strikes midnight on Valentine’s Day, I am usually left with an extra bag of candy hearts.  My solution?  Place the candy hearts in a plastic bag, whack with a rolling bin to break the candies into smaller pieces, and fold into cake batter. When you bake the cake — or cupcakes — the candies will melt and create homemade funfetti cupcakes.  And you can be sure that not a single heart will go to waste.

Chocolate Strawberries on a Stick.  In a household full of little guys, everything tends to taste better on a stick.  I buy lollipop sticks at a local candy shop and use them on just about everything. Place the lollipop stick in the stem of a fresh strawberry and let your kids get dirty. For a quick melted chocolate, use mini chocolate chips, and melt in 15-second increments in the microwave. Let your kids dip the strawberries and decorate to their liking.  We use cookies crumbs, sprinkles, red hots — really anything you have on hand.  Chill in the refrigerator and enjoy after dinner.

Tie Dye Marshmallows. It is no secret I love making homemade marshmallows.  If you follow the recipe you can play and have a multitude of different flavors. After I pour the fluff into the roasting pan, I let my boys pick their favorite food colorings and drip on the top. Next, I give them tooth picks and let them swirl away. The colors will mix and bleed together but they will look so cool!  Offer just red food coloring and you will get different hues of pinks and red, perfect for Valentine’s Day. This is also a great gift because they hold well and last a good time at room temperature!

– Caitlin Steininger, Partner