How to Explain Valentine’s Day to Kids

An ABCJesusLovesMe user asked this question…

How do you explain Valentine’s Day to kids? 

For some Valentine’s Day is a day set aside to enjoy crafts, yummy foods, and even fun Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunts. But how do you help children understand the meaning of the holiday?

The Meaning of Valentine’s Day

I explain to my kids that Valentine’s Day is a specific day set aside for us to show God’s love to other people.  Not that it is the only day that we love others, it is a reminder that we need to grasp opportunities to tell and show others how we feel about them.

Valentine’s Day is like Christmas.  While December 25th is the date set aside to remember Jesus’ birth, we should daily be thankful for Jesus coming to the earth as a baby.  Just as a Christmas tree or lights are the symbol of Christmas, the heart is the symbol of love and Valentine’s Day.

Children (and some adults) often have a misconception of what real love is. While they are frequently told to love everyone (John 13:34), love is an abstract concept that fights our selfish desires.

Figuring out what love is provides a wonderful opportunity to lead our children to the truths of the Scriptures. If your child is old enough, I encourage you to open your Bible alongside your child and turn Valentine’s Day into a teachable moment.

What is Love?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Using these verses and the child-friendly definitions below, discuss with your child what love is. Cover more or less of the definitions based on the child’s age.

Patient: waiting quietly with a happy heart and not whining
Kind: helping other people
Envious: jealous, wanting what others have
Boastful and Proud: bragging, thinking you are better than other people

Dishonor, Self-seeking: insisting on your own way, putting your wants above other’s
Angered: get mad easily

No Record of Wrongs: loving people even when they make mistakes
Delight in Evil vs. Rejoice in Truth: sad about sin and happy at obedience
Protects: takes care of others
Trusts: believe in someone

Hopes: trust, believing something good will come true
Perseveres: not stopping even though problems come and you feel like quitting
Never Fails: never gives up

How Do We Love?

(For elementary-age children) Once we know what love it, it is time to turn knowledge into action.

While loving some people is easy, it is hard to love those who don’t agree with us or aren’t being kind. But God doesn’t put limitations on who we are supposed to love. If there is a specific situation in the child’s past with a person who was hard to love, use this as an example for your child.

And this is where it gets really cool. God has given us help to do the hard things that He asks us to do. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul calls this help the “Fruit of the Spirit” and love is one of them. When the Holy Spirit is helping us, we can love even when we don’t feel like it. We can be patient when we don’t want to be. We can remain calm, even when we want to be angry.

For older children to learn more about the origin of Valentine’s Day, listen to “The Last I Do” by Adventures in Odyssey.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day

After explaining what Valentine’s Day is to your kids, enjoy these fun ideas and free printables to help you celebrate this love-filled day.

• Make some fun Valentine’s Day Crafts to share with those you love
• Bake delicious cookies or treat
• Read Bible Verses about the Heart
• Encourage Each Other with Affirmation Hearts
• Enjoy a fun Scavenger Hunt

Whatever you do, enjoy the opportunity Valentine’s Day provides to show love to those around you.

Want to know more about teaching your child to love? I invite you to view the Biblical Discipline Video Series. Read what Judith shared:

Oh my goodness how the {Biblical Discipline Video Series] is helping me!! I always knew I was a permissive parent, but I didn’t know how not to be.   …Your information has been so easy for me to understand where [to draw the lines] and you crushed my fears and insecurities . …I’ve started implementing firmer more consistent boundaries and I’m doing it with confidence.