In my mid twenties, I suddenly woke up to the fact that I didn’t have to WAIT on someone else to bring me something on Valentine’s Day so I could have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day. I could do this for myself. This is something that I greatly desire to teach my daughter. Such a fun day as Valentine’s Day should be celebrated and enjoyed by everyone. We can show our tween and teen daughters how to remain excited about future possibilities (of meeting Mr. Right:) while still being intentional today! Here are 10 memorable ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your daughter. Let’s have fun making memories with our daughters, with these Valentine’s Day ideas, as we show them how to love others and care for ourselves!
10 Memorable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Daughter
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When I was really young I hated the sappiness of the one size fits all boxed Valentine’s card. Even at the age of 7 & 8 it was too much to even think of giving the geeky boys in my class such cards.
So I would spend hours making homemade cards (back before it was cool to do such things) so I would have nice sincere cards to hand out. But then somewhere along the way I lost the lesson I had learned about creating my own happiness on Valentine’s Day.
And of course, Valentine’s Day did not go well during my teen and college years.
Thankfully, we can learn from life and choose to take care of those things that matter most to us.
I loved the idea of Valentine’s. The hearts. Pink and red everything! I just needed to change my expectations. Instead of waiting for something to happen, we can do something for others…and a little something for ourselves:)!
And what a wonderful lesson this is to share with our daughters!
Happy Valentine’s to My Daughter and Friends
Here are some great gifts ideas that you can do for your daughter. Or create some special memories together as you love on your friends and family with these Valentine’s Day celebration ideas!
Send a Valentine’s Day Card to Friends
A great way to get your tween or teenager to start thinking outwardly is to send a card to family or friends! When my Grandpa was newly widowed, I started sending him a Valentine card each year to let him know I was thinking of him.
Pick up a pack of Valentine’s Day card like these beautiful pink and red cards!
Send a Valentine’s Day Care Package
Do you have a older kid away at college? Mail a care package to them. Make an afternoon of picking out or making items that you and your daughter both think they would enjoy!
Laura at Almost Empty Nest has such fun Valentine’s Day printables to make a care package to delight anyone on your list! Plus she shares with you plenty of ideas on items, like these mug cake packets from Duncan Hines, to add to your care package.
Plan a Special Valentine’s Dinner for the Family
Two years ago, my husband and I weren’t feeling super energetic so we just decided to stay home for Valentine’s weekend. Little Red learned of this and asked if she could make dinner for us.
So I helped her pick out a very simple meal that she could do most of the work to create. She decorated the bonus room and even “waited” on us that evening.
And of course she had to help me pick out what I was going to wear, including the proper jewelry. She was so excited! It was truly a lovely evening.
Give a Valentine’s Day Gift to Your Daughter
Buy a little something special for your daughter! I try to keep Valentine’s Day gifts pretty simple. Gifts might include a book or movie and of course some chocolate! And naturally, you need a cute gift bag to put them in if the gift is for a girl…as it is the little things that matter, right?
Decorate the Home with Valentine’s Day Crafts
Do you and your daughter enjoy making crafts? Pinterest has so many cute ideas on things you can make. Little Red and I made a fun Valentine’s craft board on Pinterest just to pin some pretty craft ideas for you. Check out our Pinterest craft and dessert board here and enjoy an afternoon making a craft together to bring some beauty into your home!
I really like this idea from DIY with My Guy on how to make cute Valentine’s wreaths!
Create a Special Valentine’s Dessert Together
Have fun creating a special dessert for the family or for friends. I love this heart-shaped silicone pan. It makes even brownies more special!
Treat Yourselves to a Mom and Daughter Date for Valentine’s
Plan a date out for you and your daughter. Enjoy a specialty coffee drink. Or go to a local cafe or bakery for dessert. Again it doesn’t have to be anything exorbitant, but perhaps a little something out of the norm for you all.
Take in a little shopping or just enjoy talking with one another. Choose whatever feels “special” to your daughter or daughters.
Make Gifts for Friends and Celebrate Galentine’s
Create personalized gifts for some of her close friends. I love Valentine’s Day because it feels slightly less pressured than Christmas. The focus can really be more about making a special gift just because you want to do so.
Surprise her friends with a baked goodie, bath and body items or chocolate in a pretty cellophane bag.
Host a Valentine’s Dinner with Your Daughter
Do you have older daughters? Host a Valentine’s dinner for her and her friends!
As a single mom, I truly enjoyed the Valentine’s dinners I hosted for some young single ladies at my church. It was such fun to try out a new dessert and pick out a little gift for them to take home at the end of the evening.
You could even make it a themed night! Does your daughter and all her friends love a certain movie, book or TV series? Create an evening around their favorite show!
Watch a Romantic Comedy Together with Your Teen Daughter
And finally, one more idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your daughter. Pick out a favorite romantic movie, grab some ice cream and snuggle on the couch together! What is your favorite romantic movie or show?
10 Valentine’s Day Gift and Celebration Ideas for Teen Daughters
I hope that you are inspired to create some memories with your tween or teen daughter (s)! What a privilege to not only get to share special times with our daughter, but to also encourage them to learn early how to care for themselves and others. Dreaming about meeting Mr. Right is fun, but it doesn’t mean they have to put life on hold, right?:)
What idea seems like something your daughter would truly adore?
I love these ideas even though I have all boys. Lots of times we have a special candlelight dinner at home. Other years we’ve invited my (single) sister over and the boys wait on her. These are great ways to make the day special without spending tons of money.
Oh I love that idea of having your boys wait on you all! What a fun way to give back to others and show your sons the importance of caring for the women in their life!
Awww! I love hearing about how you used to make homemade cards when you were a kid. That sounds just like you now(you’re always so thoughtful!) and I wish we had been friends back then. When Nessa was younger, we used to plan out a special Valentine’s family dinner and she would take charge. We’ve stopped doing this, but your post is making me feel as if we should try again this year. You have some wonderful ideas here!
Ha! I’m betting some of those cards were a little scary, as you know I’m not super creative! But I did enjoy it. Ooohh, I’m sure those must have been lovely Valentine’s Dinners with Nessa in charge:)
My teenage daughter knows that all holidays are time to celebrate (and share time with) the people we love. She also knows that this applies to Valentine’s Day as well. We celebrate as a family (by exchanging cards and chocolate) and sometimes she also spends time with her gal girlfriends Thanks for reminding us that no one has to miss out on the Valentine’s Day fun.
That is fun that you all exchange cards and chocolates as a family! You are so welcome. Thank you for sharing!
I love these ideas. What special memories we can create that stay with our daughters for a lifetime.
Thanks so much Cindy! Yes, that is so true that the memories we make with our kids can last for a lifetime!