5 After 5, Ways to Show Kids Love

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and there are such clever ideas out there for showing your kids love!

Need inspiration? Just check these out...

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It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was things to do at the state fair and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here - then catch up on all the old editions here.

Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.

And this series is a link party, so be sure to scroll down and join in all the fun with us this week!

List 5 ways to show kids love

Because it's Papa's birthday, Valentine's Day is usually pretty low-key for us around here, but there are so many cute ideas for ways to show your kids love!

Here are 5 I'm planning to do this year...

1. Heart Scavenger Hunt 

This one's easy to do, even if you're not a very crafty person. Just cut out some hearts from construction paper, write a loving message to your child on each one, and then hide them around the house (make sure to remember how many you hide!)

I'm actually thinking of doing this activity with Gv - I'll cut out some hearts for her from index cards and let her decorate them for G while I work on my red-papered messages for her. We can hide our cards together and then she and G can hunt for them together when he gets home from work!

2.  Serve Heart-Shaped Food

Whether it's heart-shaped pancakes, sandwiches, cookies or these delicious homemade wheat thin crackers, serving your child special-shaped food will be sure to add a little fun to the day and remind them of your love!

3.  Read!

Thanks to my years teaching, I have quite a few Valentine-themed picture books that Gv and I snuggle up and read every year - what could be more loving than extra lap time?

Here are a few of our favorites, or you can read my review of this new one here. 



The Night Before Valentine's Day

The Best Thing About Valentines

The Biggest Valentine Ever

Splat the Cat: Funny Valentine

Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink

Llama Llama I Love You

4.  Hidden Hearts

Have you ever heard of the Hidden Mickeys at Disney? Well, here's your chance to bring a bit of that fun right into your own house - with hidden hearts!

See what everyday things you can arrange into a heart shape (make a note of them all, so you don't forget) and then tell your child to keep his or her eyes open for them all day long.

5.  Make crafts together

Nothing says love like spending time with your child doing something he or she loves and one way to do this is to create Valentine's decorations together.

This is something you can do with even the tiniest toddler - check out my Valentine's Day Decorations to Make with Your Little Sweetheart post for inspiration!

For next week:

List 5 ways to show your spouse love

G and I don't usually do anything for each other on this day, but I've come across some frugal, easy ideas that I might just try out...

And now, here's this week's link party!  Another fabulous blogger has teamed up with me to create a list of five each week and we hope that you'll join us, too!

That's right, every post will be read, pinned and tweeted!  

Every Saturday, just stop by one of our blogs to add your own list of five, then pop over and read as many other posts as you're able to each week - treat it like a true party and really mix it up and mingle with our fun little community!

The rules are simple:  just write your own list following the prompt each week (feel free to interpret it loosely - or in a unique way!), follow both of the hosts on the social media channel of your choice, and then get into the spirit of the party by grabbing your favorite beverage or snack and reading the lists of the other party-goers.

Your Hosts:

Lisa, at Syncopated Mama: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin'

Samantha, at Motivated Days: Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ 

What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox!

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