How To Teach Your Kids To Be A Great Valentine

Valentine’s Day is a great time to smother your significant other with affection. But it’s also a great opportunity to teach your children how to be a caring and courteous person. Maybe you have young children in which you’re trying to instill compassionate values, or maybe you’re trying to help your teen succeed in the dating world. In any case, use this Valentine’s Day (or any day of the year, for that matter) to educate your children about being kind and practicing good social skills.

Here are a few tips to help you out.

Have Them Treat Someone on Valentine’s Day

If you’re going to teach your kids how to be a good valentine, then they’ll need someone to practice on. Typically, Mom is the best person for your kids to treat on Valentine’s Day. But if there’s no Mom in the picture, you can have your kids treat each other, or you can treat your kids.

It’s totally okay to be your child’s valentine when you’re a single dad. Your child will get the opportunity to understand how to be kind, compassionate, and put others before oneself. These skills will ultimately develop into good dating skills when your child reaches that age. Show them how good it feels to treat someone. And even if you’re the one treating your child, your child might still internalize your actions and learn to treat others in the same sweet way.

Help Them Prepare Breakfast in Bed

One of the most fun ways to teach your kids how to be a good valentine is to help them prepare breakfast in bed for Mom or for older siblings. Wake them up early and have them help you out in the kitchen. Teach them how to cook eggs, pancakes, toast, and bacon, and help them pour a glass of juice. Obviously, you’re going to have to lead the way quite a bit. Take extra care to make sure your kids don’t burn themselves.

Once you’re done making all the food, put it on a tray and have your kids take it to Mom. You might actually opt to carry the bedroom tray, because this is where children often take a hilarious stumble and spill all the food on the floor.

Show Them How to Give Flowers

One of the best parts about Valentine’s Day is giving flowers to your special someone. Take your children to the store and have them pick out lovely flowers for Mom. You can also sit with them and search for flower bouquets online, and have the flowers delivered. Having flowers delivered online might be fun for the kids because most flower delivery sites enable you to write a special message for the recipient—kids may have fun doing that.

Help Your Kids Prepare Valentines for School

Most elementary schools let students pass around valentine cards to their classmates. You should definitely encourage your kids to participate. If your children are shy, they might need a little egging on. Sit with them and help them get their valentine cards ready.