10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day with your Teenager

Valentine’s Day was a pretty big day during my teenage years, as I went to an all girl high school. Some of the girls would receive big bouquets of flowers on Valentine’s Day, delivered right to the school. If you were single, like me, you felt a bit lonely! My dad even tried to send me flowers one year, only to have them NOT come on Valentine’s Day but instead, awkwardly come the next day! Thanks for trying, Dad. So while I have struggled through my fair share of sad Valentine’s Day, I have turned the tables on Valentine’s Day making it a FUN day for all my friends and family that I love. So here are 10 fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your teenager that will leave them with lots of positive memories.

10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Teenager

Valentine’s Day traditionally is just for sweethearts. But with all the pretty decorations, chocolates and opportunities to say “I love you”, we can help our teenager have fun and practice showing love to their family and friends. Here are some memorable ways to celebrate and have a little fun around Valentine’s Day.

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Shower a Loved One On Valentine’s

Brainstorm with your teenager, thinking of a family member or friend that could use a little extra TLC this Valentine’s. Did someone lose their spouse recently or go through a divorce? Has one of their friends broken up recently? Has someone moved and are probably missing their friends? Plan a little surprise together with your teenager for that person!

You all can make or buy a card, bake some cookies or send a small care package. Have fun planning together what might bring a smile to this person! You will discover that as you all focus on others, your teen will be more aware of all they have and feel more joyful!

Enjoy An Afternoon Out with Your Teen

Plan an afternoon or evening out with your middle schooler or high schooler! You all can grab a specialty coffee and go window shopping. Go to a museum that your teenager might enjoy. My teens all loved the National Air Force Museum. And it is actually free. Or they enjoy the Omnimax theatre at our local Natural History Museum. One time, we took a winter hike in the snow and got tons of amazing snow pictures!

Do a little research and see if you can find an event or thing to do that might be a little different. Since we have recently moved, my daughter and I have been exploring the areas around our new town. We have discovered an amazing bakery in the middle of nowhere, a beautiful restored old part of downtown and a beautiful Smoky Mountain looking drive with several covered bridges along the route!

Send a Valentine Package to Your College Student

Is your student away at college or just moved out on their own? Send them a fun Valentine’s Day themed care package. When Tech Boy was at college, my daughter and I had fun decorating a box, picking out lots of fun items and mailing him a surprise package. We may have had more fun than he actually did receiving it!

Check out all these adorable printables to decorate your care package over at Almost Empty Nest. Laura is so creative with her free printables!

Create a Small Valentine’s Gift Basket

Who doesn’t love a surprise gift? Give your teenager a fun Valentine’s Day gift basket. Keep it simple!

Cozy Gifts for Teens

How about this adorable throw and a cozy mug filled with chocolates!

Gifts for the Teen Driver

Is your teen driving? Then get them one of these car swing friends! They are so adorable and come in a variety of animals!

Candle Lighter is the Perfect Gift!

This handy candle lighter is super fun and practical. It is rechargeable and very handy! My kids all bought them for each another! Add in a candle and some chocolates and you have a fabulous gift!

These woodwick candles that make the crackle sound are awesome!

Gifts for the Studious Teen

Does your teen spend a lot of time at their desk or computer? This fun hand-held desk vacuum was a favorite gift this year with my teen. Keep their desk and computer clean with a click of the button!

And then add in this simple phone stand! My teen stole mine! I guess I need to buy myself a new one! I got my first phone stand, in rose gold, just cause I thought it looked pretty, but I ended up using it all the time on my desk or in the kitchen while cooking!

Decorate Their Room or Your House For Valentine’s

One year, my mom came to visit, so my daughter, mom and I made a Valentine craft! We had fun, picking out the craft idea from Shannon at Skip to My Life. Then we shopped at the Dollar Tree and made our crafts together. I am not super crafty, but I enjoy small projects, especially when someone tells me what to do!:)

Check out all of Shannon’s cute budget friendly Valentine craft ideas here! She also has Valentine Gift Basket ideas here!

Plan a Valentine Family Dinner

Help your teen or tween plan out a simple meal that everyone in your family loves. They can set the table and maybe bring out a few nice dishes to make the table look pretty. Don’t forget to light some candles!

Or you all can order pizza in and watch a movie! Some pizza chains make their pizza in the shape of a heart around the holiday! Have your teens decide on a movie that they would enjoy watching and spend the evening together!

Host a Valentine Event for Friends

Host a Valentine’s Day Tea or a Galentine’s Tea. Invite some friends over for some light snacks or Valentine’s Day treats.

One year, we hosted a tea for some other moms and daughters. It was such a fun time! But the party was also a bit crazy as we ended up getting about half a foot of snow and our plumbing in our house backed up. So to get to the bathroom, you had to hike out to the barn. But everyone was a great sport, and the crazy weather made it feel even more special!

Bake Valentine’s Goodies

Make a Valentine’s baked good for your family to enjoy! You can start with a premade mix, use a fun heart shaped cake pan, or get more elaborate by scrolling ideas on Pinterest!

When our boys were teens, I would make brownies in my heart cake pan and they thought it was great. But I think it was more about getting to have dessert! Now that I have an older daughter, the Valentine’s Day treats have gotten a little more fancy!

One year, we made cake pops. Another time we bought the confetti Valentine’s Day cake mix and made cupcakes with pink icing. On a separate occasion we purchased Oreos and dipped them in chocolate and sprinkled them with heart shaped sprinkles!

Shower Your Teen with Cards

Buy a pack of Valentine’s Day cards. Write encouraging messages or tell your teenager things that you love or appreciate about them. Then leave them in places that they will find them, like their bookbag, laptop, car, bathroom or their room!

Or you can just print off this simple to use Valentine’s printable! Go here to find this easy printable from Melissa at Blessed Simplicity with 14 days of Valentine’s Day messages of love!

Enjoy A Spa Day

If you have girls, they may enjoy spending a little time pampering themselves! Give each other manicures. Or have fun doing facials.

If you have never tried these jade rollers, they are so relaxing, especially when someone does it for you! Heavenly! We bought two of these jade rollers here!

And I just purchased these cute hydrating sheet masks to try with my teenager!

Or you can also make a beauty product, which is great fun! Julia over at Dogwoods and Dandelions has some great beauty product recipes that we have used and loved! And the ingredients can easily be ordered on Amazon!

We love her homemade body butter recipe! Divine!