Cyber-hugs
Head online to find fun techno-greetings your kids can send in a flash.
Say it in a personalized e-card. Many sites allow you to add your own photo, music or video to any e-card.
Share a cell phone ring tone. Check your and your valentine’s phone carrier’s options to see if you can send a festive tune as a gift. You can also send a tune to a cell phone via the Internet. Standard phone messaging and transfer rates may apply.
Create a character. Many Web sites offer avatars and cute characters that you can use to enhance your digital greetings, like emails and posts. Search your favorite sites together for kid-friendly options your child can use to create a picture-perfect Valentine message.
Fun For the Family
Make a Valentine’s Day memory for the whole family with an “I Love You” dinner that gets the kids involved.
Start with invitations. Seal the envelopes with a red-lipstick kiss. Leave them on washstands as a surprise the night before.
Adorn the table. Help grade-schoolers create heart-decorated place cards and napkin rings using strips of colorful gift-wrap. Sprinkle rose petals on the table as a fragrant finale.
Plan the meal. Fix your favorite red dishes or pick up red foods at the local grocery or deli, starting with tomato pasta, tomato sauce, red cabbage coleslaw, strawberries, and apple salad.
Bake a memory. Enjoy the extra-warm experience of baking a beautiful treat together. It’s easy – and if you time it right, the treats will fill the house with their delicious aroma while you enjoy dinner.
A Valentine to the World
Try these volunteer ideas to warm some other hearts.
Make a donation. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital helps sick kids get better. You can make a donation in your Valentine’s name. St. Jude sends a card (by email or postal mail) to your friend. Go to stjude.org and search “gift cards.” Or, visit the Web site of your favorite charity.
Adopt a penguin. You can adopt a penguin, lemur, panda, or one of 40 other animals when you make a donation to the World Wildlife Fund. To learn more, go to worldwildlife.org and search “adoption.”
