Valentine’s Day with Kids

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your kids.

I’ve always loved Valentine’s day! For me, it’s the next (biggish) holiday I have to look forward to after Christmas ends. We’re always a little sad after Christmas wraps up, so to battle the post-Christmas blues, I shift my mind into Valentine’s plans to help my heart. Haha!! Do you do that, too, or am I alone?  

Once Chad and I added kids into the mix, I really started to love Valentine’s day more, especially as a boy mom. There’s just something special about getting a specific day to love your people a little more intentionally! So for me, Valentine’s day with kids is just a little sweeter!

Raising kids can be really hard. One thing I’ve had heavy on my heart from day one of raising kids is, the words we speak over our kids matter. Like…a lot. And it’s really easy to lose sight of that in the nitty gritty, everyday moments. Now, as they are getting older I am seeing that the words I speak over them hold an even greater weight. The words I speak can either set them up for success and confidence, or can set them up for failure and insecurities. 

I don’t know about you, but I can remember words that people spoke over me when I was young. Some were words of encouragement, or compliments, while others were super negative. I remember both. But, the negative ones are the words I have to fight off in my mind. Those are the thoughts I have to take captive… or fight off with a stick. 😉 

The enemy loves to replay those negative words. They’re the words that are the loudest in my mind. They’re the ones that cause me to feel and operate out of insecurity. And operating out insecurity leads to poor decision making, and oftentimes, hurting other people around me… just like the person who spoke those words over me, hurt me. I would imagine you have probably experienced that with words in your own life, too.

Knowing how much words affect all of us has made me take pause over and over as I speak to my own kids. Good pleasing, affirming words, that build others up has to start in our homes. So that when our kids leave them, they will be the kind of people who speak good pleasing, affirming words over others. The Lord tells us to love one another and build each other up. I don’t know about you, but I think the fastest way to build someone up is with an encouraging, kind word.

Because of that, I started something in our home to help love on our kids a little more intentionally on Valentine’s day. This was not my original idea, my friend Amy is the mastermind behind it. And, because I’m such a firm believer in speaking love and life over my kids, I wanted to do this for my kids, too. So the tradition began, several years ago. 

As a family we eat a fun, yummy dinner together on Valentine’s. On the dining room table, covered with butcher paper, I write encouraging words to each of my kids. I take the time to think of, and write specific, positive characteristics that I see in each of my kids, at their place on the table. Along with the words they get treats and little gifts, but the words (simple, written, encouraging words) are always their favorite parts. It’s so wild (and super sweet) to see their faces light up as they read my thoughts about them. It’s not like I don’t say it on a regular basis, cause I do. But the extra step of writing it out so they can read it, just seems to carry a different weight.

It’s probably my favorite tradition I have for our family. It’s simple, but I believe, it gives a lot of life and encouragement to my boys. I know it will to your kids, too. Wouldn’t it be awesome if all of our tables were lined with butcher paper and sharpie writing this Valentine’s day. I think it would help produce beautiful, confident people as our future leaders! This is a great way we can keep our kid’s hearts safe and confident in the homes we’ve been called to steward. What do you say?! Will you do it with me? Here are the steps to get your table set!

1. Tape your butcher paper on to your table.
2. Grab your sharpie and write your first kiddo’s name.  As you think about that specific kid, write your favorite attributes of theirs all around their name. Be specific and intentional. This is also a great time to speak life into any weaknesses they have, maybe an area where they need encouragement. Tell them they’re brave if they’ve been overcoming a fear. Tell them they’re a great leader if they’ve started making their own way and not being worried about others. Etc.
3. Decorate to your hearts desire! Stickers. Confetti. Candy. Bunting.

That’s it! It only takes a little bit of thought and time and you’ve created a life-giving valentine’s day for your kids! Let me know if you made a Valentine’s word’s of encouragement table this year… and tag me in any of your pictures on social media. I can’t wait to see them!!!

Pin this so you can save it for later!