I remember as a child sitting down with my mom the night before Valentine’s Day and filling out the small Valentines’ for my class. Later, after I was married, Valentine’s Day was a wonderful excuse for dinner out with my husband … that’s until we realized that the restaurants were too crowded, and we chose to have a date night on a different day.
Now as a mom, when February arrives I don’t simply focus on one special day. Instead, I see it as a month in which I can help my family learn about loving each other and loving God more. If you’re interested in spreading the love this February, here are 10 ways to help your family fill February with love!
1. Have a craft night and make Valentines to give to all your family members. Buy construction paper, stickers, and markers, and work with your family to create Valentines for each other. Help kids write messages to Mom, Dad, and the other siblings. Feel free to make them silly or meaningful. Save them and present them to each other on Valentine’s Day. Later, tuck them away as keepsakes to look back on over the years.
2. Share a special story about a time when your spouse—or a special friend—showed love. I’ve shared about a special Sunday school teacher when I was a child. My husband points out the things he appreciates about the ways I care for our family. As the kids hear us share, they often want to join in and share special stories too.
3. Take your kids on a date. Encourage everyone to get dressed up, and if you can, choose a place with cloth napkins. My kids love feeling special. We share meals to save money. It’s truly the experience that everyone enjoys.
4. Teach each other how to fill your love tank. What makes you feel loved the most: a hug, a compliment, one-on-one time, a small gift? Or you feel loved the most when someone helps you with your chore or does something nice for you. Encourage each family member to love the others in ways the mean the most.
5. Memorize a Scripture verse about love with your family. A perfect choice is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” This devotional might inspire you to find even more verses!
6. Spend time with your kids doing things they love. My kids enjoy board games and movie nights. We try to make these happen at least once a week.
7. Have a Valentine’s Day picnic in your living room. Have everyone work together to make sandwiches and finger foods. Then spread out a blanket and enjoy time together.
8. Create a “Things I Love About Our Family” Jar. Keep slips of paper and a pencil beside the jar. Help the younger kids write down things they love about their family, too. Choose a day each week to read through the new notes in the jar.
9. Make coupons for each other. They can be coupons for hugs, for help with chores, or for fun activities to do together. It’s fun making them and cashing them in.
10. Write a love note to Jesus. Mom and Dad can help kids come with reasons we love and are thankful for Jesus. After ideas are written down, a family scribe can help write them into one note.
As you can see there are many ways we can celebrate February with fun, care, and love. And maybe, at the end of the month, you’ll want to continue on with some of these ideas! After all, you can never have too much spreading love around in your family.
Walking In Him,
Tricia Goyer
