There’s no day like Valentine’s Day to make that someone special in your life know how you feel about them. While grown-up loved ones may get all the attention of advertisers, Valentine’s Day can be a unique opportunity to let little ones know how much they are loved too.

Here are some ways to make the entire day special without going to Pinterest-level extremes.

Breakfast

Adding some red, white coloring, or even heart shapes can make most any breakfast into a Valentine’s Day feast to start the day. It may require waking up a little early, but these ideas are bound to bring a smile to any face.

• Pancakes, served any number of ways. Want to go simple? Put strawberries and whipped cream on top. Feeling adventurous? Go with these red velvet pancakes. Want to make your kids think you’re a rock star? Make the pancakes heart-shaped.
• A heart-filled egg breakfast. Get out your cookie cutter and make a fun and unique breakfast treat with this Valentine’s Day Egg in a Hole.
• For the cooking impaired, we’ve got you covered on this one. Go get donuts. Everyone loves them. And if you get the pink ones with sprinkles, you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Lunch

With a little planning, reminding your children you love them is easy during school.

• Include a sandwich from the heart. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut your children’s peanut butter and jelly (or whatever else is their favorite spread) sandwiches into fun shapes. 
• Send care messages in your child’s lunch box. Slip a note in their lunchbox reminding them how special they are to you.

After school

Spending time with a person is the best way to show him or her you care. Find activities to do together:

• Make a sweet treat for your sweetie. Baking together in the kitchen is a great way to bond with your children and create an atmosphere rich with giggles. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters and make sugar cookies, then decorate with red, pink and white icing and sprinkles.
• Get crafty. Pull out the construction paper and glitter and make heart-shaped paper chains to decorate the house or some homemade Valentine’s Day cards to share with family or classmates. Make a Valentine for each member of the family and display them around the house. If you have extras and want to make someone feel extra special, send a card or two to brighten the day of a senior adult in your neighborhood. 

Evening

Cap the day off with a special evening together. Here’s two ideas of how to end the day right.

• At dinner, share something special about each other. Go around the table and have each person say words of encouragement to everyone else by sharing one thing they appreciate about that person.
• Watch a family movie or read some books together. Pick a Valentine classic like “A Charlie Brown Valentine” or “Lady and the Tramp” or start your own tradition with a movie your family loves. Or find some of your favorite books, snuggle close together on the couch and read aloud with each other.

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to remind someone how special they are. Want to help people in your community? Volunteer with Buckner and change a life.