Easy Valentine's Day Ideas for Parents of Little Kids

A collection of easy Valentine’s Day ideas for parents of little kids or anyone else who would prefer to stay home this year. This post will go over some of our favorite winter, at-home date nights to help you spend time together without breaking the bank.

Valentine’s Day does not have to be complicated or expensive. Having young kids at home can add to the pressure to make Valentine’s Day Special. The idea of finding a babysitter and spending time and money outside of the house can make the day more anxiety inducing than exciting.

I have made a list of some easy, at-home date nights that are perfect for the Winter and Valentine’s Day seasons! These ideas are a great way to spend time together and create a memorable Valentine’s Day without the pressure of leaving the house.

Image of books and image of couple dancing in a kitchen with text

Spending a Day Together YouTube Video

Spend a day with our family as we find little moments to celebrate each other in the middle of the mundane!

Reasons to Stay Home this Valentine’s Day for Parents of Little kids

Breaks Up the Mundane- Finding a different way to spend time together at home can help your home feel special again. It is easy to get wrapped in the daily tasks that have to be done in a home. Intentionally spending time together in your home can bring some life back to the home and remind you why you love being at home together in the first place.
Affordable- Everything is expensive these days. Gas prices, food prices, babysitting prices, gifts for each other…it all adds up. Save some money this year and stay home.
Creative- Finding a new way to spend time together at home gives you a chance to flex your creativity muscle. It can be a great bonding exercise to work together to find a new way to spend your time.
Avoids Crowds- Valentine’s Day is already so crowded. Plus, if you didn’t think ahead and make a reservation, you may be waiting for a very long time. Additionally, you can actually hear each other at home without all of the bustle of other people. Staying home allows you to avoid busy roads and restaurants so you have more time and space for what matters, each other.
Avoids Weather Issues- Valentine’s Day is in the middle of Winter. Who knows what the weather and roads will look like. Stay home to avoid having to cancel or change plans last minute due to weather.

Materials for Easy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Parents of Little Kids

There are so many ideas for wonderful at-home date nights! From crafts to books to board games, you can find materials and ideas for all of them here!

5 Easy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Parents of Little Kids

Reading Together

Reading together can take on a few different variations.

Read separate books and then talk about what you read with each other.
Take turns reading the same book to each other.

This can be a great way to bond while learning new things. You can even take it a step further and go the library together to pick out the book or books you want to read together. Hearing each other’s voices and intentionally listening to each other are both great ways to strengthen your marriage. Try reading to each other for a very laid back and romantic Valentine’s Day.

Here are Some Recommendations for Books to Read Together:

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A Couple’s Devotional

The 5 love Languages

The Adventure Challenge Couple’s Edition

Any of the adorable Catana Comics Books

Little Moments of Love

Snug

In Love and Pajamas

Snuggle by a Fire

Winter is the perfect time for a fire. And what more romantic day is there to snuggle up by a fire together than on Valentine’s Day?! Depending on the climate where you live, this can either by an indoor fire in a fireplace or an outdoor fire in a fire pit. Either way, bring blankets and snacks to make it a cozy evening.

Snuggling by a fire is also a great opportunity for intentional conversation you may not normally have together. Take this time to dream together and plan out your future. Really take advantage of this time to let your spouse know your heart in a deeper way.

Cook a Meal Together

Cooking a meal together is an underrated date night. You are in complete control in your own home. That means, you get to decide the menu, how fancy the table looks, what you’re wearing, all of it. If simplicity is your thing, make a simple meal together and don’t decorate your table. If you want to shake things up, make a multiple course meal together and add a beautiful table cloth with tapered candles. The choice is all yours.

There are also so many ways to divide cooking the meal. There have been years that I make dessert and my husband makes the entire meal. Sometimes, one of us is in charge of sides and the other is in charge of the main course. In other instances, we completely do everything together side by side. How you divide the tasks is also completely up to you and what works best in your relationship. No matter how you tackle cooking a meal together, it always makes for a very romantic Valentine’s Day. Bonus points if you take a dance break while cooking!

Movie Night

A movie night is another classic date night that is perfect for the winter season. Whether it’s a movie you’ve already seen and love or a new movie you’ve been wanting to watch, a movie night is another great way to cuddle up this Valentine’s Day. Grab some popcorn, favorite snacks and drinks, and some cozy blankets for a beautiful night in.

Craft Night

Craft nights are a super fun winter date night idea. There are so many variations of craft night: painting, scrapbooking, yarn crafts, the list is endless! This can also be a great opportunity to learn new skills. If one person in the relationship knows how to do a craft, you can teach the other person. Or, you can both learn a new craft together. The goal here is not perfection, just a new and creative way to spend time together this Valentine’s Day.