Inside: This “Day of Love” holiday used to be so much fun when your kids were young, but now it seems like they are uninterested. We put together our seven best Valentine’s Day ideas for teens and tweens that won’t make them roll their eyes!
Sigh. Remember Valentine’s Days of yore?
When you sat down and helped little hands craft a shoebox to hold all those cute cards, participated in class parties, and spent hours trying to get your kid to sign his name 26 times by February 14th?
Yeah, maybe it wasn’t all fun and games, but I did love how excited my kids would get about Valentine’s Day when they were little.
Now that they are teenagers, it’s just not the same. They are way more interested in spending time with their friends or even (gasp!) their significant other. Additionally, it’s tough to find things that they don’t think are too immature for them
And while I’m happy to give them some Valentine’s Day gifts, I also want to use this time as an opportunity to connect with my older kids.
But I’m not ready to let any opportunity pass to have some fun with my big kids and make them feel loved, so so we came up with a few Valentine’s Day ideas for teens and tweens that even the grumpiest kid will enjoy (honestly, they may not show it, but they love it deep down!)
Looking for some great Valentine’s Day gift ideas for teens? Here are 75+ Awesome Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Teens!
Eight Awesome Valentine’s Day Ideas for Teens and Tweens
1. Breakfast (or Dinner) in Bed
Is there anything better than waking up to a beautiful tray with your favorite breakfast items on it without you needing to do anything? With teens having a lot of pressure on them in today’s world, having just one less thing to think about can start their day off better.
Since most teens, however, get up at the crack of dawn, they may not have the five minutes to spare even to woof breakfast down, so you may have to get creative.
You can have your teen’s favorite breakfast waiting for them to-go style, do it on the weekend of Valentine’s Day, or even tell them to get comfy in bed with their favorite Netflix binge and you’ll bring dinner up to their room for them to enjoy at their leisure. Also, never underestimate how simply bringing up your teen’s favorite snacks can make their day a little brighter.
Remember, the point is to spoil them a little bit and make them feel loved.
2. Valentine’s Day Ideas for the Teen You Want to Connect With: Coupons
I know, it sounds kind of cheesy, but many teenagers truly appreciate when they are provided with a “freebie,” whether it is a tangible or intangible gift. You can create a mix of coupons that includes some outings or dates you can do together, a few things that may seem “special” to them, and some that are silly.
The goal is to show your teen or tween that you see them, you understand what they love, and you want them to be happy.
For example, if you have a coffee-loving teen, you can give them a coupon for four free dates with you at the local coffee shop. Even a few minutes in a drive-through can give you some time to connect with your teenager. I know my teenage daughter always opens up whenever we go to Dunkin!
Or, if you are a parent who restricts tech usage, you can give your teenager a coupon for an extra hour of video games or screen time (parental terms and conditions apply!).
You can also give them some opportunities to get out of their chores. Even the most good-natured teen would appreciate not having to mow the lawn, pack their lunch, or take out the garbage every night, so a Chore Free Coupon would be a fun way to show some love.
You may also like: Simple Valentine’s Day Affirmations To Share With Your Teens (and free printables)
3. Put Valentine’s Day Hearts on Teen’s Door
We LOVE this Valentine’s Day idea for teens we saw on Moms of Teens and Tween’s recently (she also has some awesome printable hearts you can use for this cute idea.) Starting on February 1 (or whenever you want in the month of February), put a heart on your teen’s door with a note telling them something you love about them.
Parents often think we’re telling our kids what we love and like about them, but sometimes in the muddle of everyday life, they may not be hearing us. Also, if you’re like me, sometimes I get so concerned with preparing my teenagers for life that I forget to tell them why I think they are awesome.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas:
- I love how hard you practice your sport. My favorite thing to do is watch you play!
- I was so proud of you when I saw you _______________________.
- I loved how hard you worked at _____________.
- My favorite quality about you is :___________.
- Your laugh is the best!
You get the picture. Be as heartfelt or as silly as your relationship, but don’t think for a minute that your teen won’t be checking to see what you leave for them each day.
And the point is not to overwhelm you or your teen in any way. If this is too much work, consider handwriting a “love” letter to your teen letting them know all the reasons why they are tops on your list.
4. Valentine’s Day Ideas for Teens When You Don’t Have a Lot of Time? Leave Them Valentine’s Day “Love” Notes
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers; it’s a day to show your love.
Despite wanting to be treated like a grown-up, teens and tweens truly need to be reminded that they are loved as often as possible. Hide notes in some places where they may not expect, and don’t worry if they don’t find them only on Valentine’s Day. Nothing is nicer than when you’re having a bad day, and a love note drops into your lap.
A few good hiding places are:
- underneath their video game controllers
- in the pocket of their hoodie
- dresser drawers
- dashboards of their car
- in their favorite mug
- in a textbook
- on their pillow
5. Make (or Purchase) a Special Valentine’s Day Dessert
From what we know about teenagers, the way to their hearts is definitely through their stomachs–and they definitely appreciate dessert.
You can do so many great sweet treats at Valentine’s Day, but we love the idea of getting a little more sophisticated and decadent than a chocolate chip cookie (although you can never go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie!)
We love these ideas that include a strawberry tart or a chocolate and marshmallow sandwich, but if you have an aspiring baker, this could be something you can do together.
But most teens aren’t picky, so if you want to show the love, pick out their favorite treats from the local bakery or some cupcakes from the grocery store. Also, never underestimate the power of a gift card for their favorite sweet treat.
It’s all an act of love.
6. Have a Movie Marathon
Let’s be honest, sometimes Valentine’s Day can be a downer if you feel like you are the only one not in a romantic relationship. This can be particularly hard on a teen that is scrolling social media and seeing the highlights of their peers with a boyfriend or girlfriend.
One of the easier Valentine’s Day ideas for teens that can distract them a bit is to plan a movie night that is their choice. RomComs are not the only choice. A Marvel marathon can be a great way to show the love.
Need some Valentine’s Day ideas for a movie marathon? Here are some of our favorite movies from the 80s and our faves from Netflix.
7. Share the Things You Love with Your Teenager
This is one of my favorites and such a fun idea for Valentine’s Day. I think it would even be great to do with your college student.
A friend who felt like she was losing her connection with her teen son put together a list of all the favorite things she loved: books, songs, podcasts, movies, hobbies, etc., and shared it with her kid. Then, she asked him to put together the same.
Once a month, they each had to listen/read/do something that the other loved. That meant that my friend went and played paintball, listened to some interesting bands, and read a graphic Sci-Fi fantasy book that gave her nightmares–but she said she learned to appreciate her son so much better.
On the flip side, she got to listen to her favorite Brene Brown podcast on a college visit road trip with him as well as a biography on audiobook that she loved. He also taught her how to use Spotify.
The net-net is it brought them closer together, which in my mind makes it the perfect gift idea for any parent.
8. Check out SugarWish
SugarWish is such a cute idea! Basically, you purchase the gift card in whatever amount works for you, and then your tween/teen can pick out whatever treats they love, ranging from candy, cookies, and snacks or coffee/tea or flowers. It’s such a great way of showing you care but also letting them do something for themselves! They will then quicky send their selection directly to them, so it’s a great care package idea for college kids or others who are away from home.
You may also like: The Best Valentine’s Day Care Package Ideas For Your College-aged Kids To Show Them Your Love
Added Bonus Valentine’s Day Idea
Take advantage of the time of year and do something unexpected with your teenager to remind them how much fun this day can be. Go ice skating or sledding, make dinner together, play some board games, plan an overnight getaway, or even just some hot drinks by the fire.
Sometimes, just showing someone you care- and that you love them exactly as they are- is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
We love this shirt to show the teen gamer in your life that you love them.
Related: 100+ Gift Ideas for Teenage Gamers That Will Blow Their Minds
Are you in the thick of raising your tweens and teens? You may like this book by Whitney Fleming, the co-owner of Parenting Teens & Tweens: Loving Hard When They’re Hard to Love: Essays about Raising Teens in Today’s Complex, Chaotic World.
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Ali says
These are great tips! Thanks. So many ads though. It’s hard to find the content.
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