Valentine’s Day Memories

Children love Valentine’s Day, and there is no better time to make some special “forever memories”, than on Valentine’s Day.

Begin by stepping into the kitchen ¾ with your kids, of course.  Start your day making some pancakes in the shapes of X’s and O’s, and hearts!  Add a little strawberry flavored syrup and watch your kid’s eyes light up!

For lunch, use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make sandwiches and pink milk shakes with special heart decorated straws.

Dinnertime, allow your child to shape a pizza into a heart and cover with their favorite toppings.

Don’t forget dessert!  A nice change from sugar cookies is making Crispy Rice kisses.  Mix together 3 tablespoons each of peanut butter or Nutella (if you prefer chocolate) honey, and 2 cups crispy rice cereal.  Let your child pack the cereal mixture into a small funnel to mold it.  Carefully remove the cereal “kiss” shape.  Continue making kisses with the rest of the mixture.  Freeze kisses until firm, about 2 hours.  Serve and enjoy!

We always work on compliments on Valentine’s Day.  Everyone loves to hear something nice about them and this is the perfect way to practice.   Cut out a small paper heart for each family member or friends and print that person’s name on it.  Have each family member or friends take turns selecting a heart from the basket and saying something nice about the person named on that heart.  Continue drawing hearts from the basket until everyone has received a Valentine Compliment.  We call compliments warm fuzzies, because they make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside!

You can also make some of your own Valentines.  I prefer to allow the creativity in children to flow by setting out pink, red, and white construction paper, lots of lace, glitter, sequins, and buttons, anything that sparkles and shines and turn them loose.  They are sure to create a work of art that will melt your heart.  Be sure to make your child a special valentine too.

Conclude your day with lots of cuddle time, hugs, kisses, I love yous, and don’t forget to read my new book, “I Love You More Than Chocolate”.    It is guaranteed to be a Valentine’s Day that you and your child will remember forever!

 

About the author: Melanie Milburn is Director of New Horizons Preschool in Durango, Colorado, where she has been teaching for 18 years.  She has been writing songs for over 20 years and has produced two CDs for children.  Melanie recently transformed one of her songs into a book titled, “I Love You More Than Chocolate”.  The book comes with a CD of Melanie singing the book and children love being able to listen to the CD while turning the pages of the book.  To learn more about Melanie and her book go to her website, www.melaniemilburn.com