“Feeling the love” this time of year is far more than a warm, fuzzy sentiment in the Lion King theme song! For sure, expressing love is likely a core reason you do foster care—and showing your foster children they are loved is important every day. But Valentine’s Day is an ideal time to open the floodgates and create special memories that these kids will cherish for a lifetime. Here are some fun ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
Bake!
Get creative and bake some love-themed treats together! For example, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or cake pan to whip up some memorable treats. A great way to teach him a skill while bonding and spending quality time. Munching on the finished product isn’t a bad finale, either!
Get crafty.
How about sitting down with her and creating Valentine’s cards together? (Be sure to have plenty of colorful construction paper, crayons, glue, and maybe some paper doilies and heart-shaped candies on hand!) Prepare these for friends at school, or maybe for members of her birth family. Brainstorm fun ideas for the messages she’d like to write inside!
Reach out.
Suggest that your foster child think of a person he knows who’s lonely or sad this Valentine’s Day, maybe an elderly neighbor or a friend who doesn’t have a Valentine to celebrate with. Engage your child in planning a special dinner or dessert for this person and inviting them to be your family’s guest. (Help your child make special placemats, place cards, or a centerpiece for the table.) If inviting this person to your home is not an option, help your child think of ways to share some cheery affection—maybe delivering a bouquet of flowers or cookies and a homemade card, or providing an act of service like shoveling snow or landing a hand with house cleaning.
Mine Bible treasures together.
Teach your child that love is God’s idea—and that he has given us many powerful Scriptures about it. Discuss one of the verses below, explore its core principle, and make a game out of memorizing it or setting it to music together. Reward your child’s efforts with gold-covered chocolate coins or another edible treasure.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1
“His banner over me is love.” Song of Songs 2:4
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Plan a family movie night.
Invite your foster child help you find a fun, family-friendly Valentine’s Day movie. Brainstorm fitting themes, like a child’s love for a pet or maybe the special connection of a child with his grandparent. Then search together for the perfect selection—in your DVD collection, local library, or streaming service. Once you land the right movie, schedule the time, whip up some popcorn and beverages together, grab some pillows and blankets, turn off the lights, and make some movie memories!
Remember the tummy-heart connection.
To make your foster child feel especially loved, as her to help you make her favorite dinner or dessert? Or treat her to a meal at her favorite restaurant!
Encourage him to feel his feelings
Be on the lookout for signs and signals that your child is missing his bio parents or siblings on this special day celebrating love, and give him plenty of space to talk about these feelings. If possible and appropriate, set up a visit, phone call, or teleconference with them on or near Valentine’s Day.
