How Mom Extends 'Sentimental Value' Of Valentine Gifts From The Hubby

Valentine’s Day has always been a “holiday” I support. I love it as much as Halloween and Christmas. Needless to say, I am also a big sucker for Valentine’s gifts — flowers, chocolates, pastries, heart-shaped/designed cards, surprise gifts — name it, I love it.

There are some I know who don’t like the idea of receiving gifts during Valentine simply because they don’t know what to do with them come February 15. I get it. Flowers wilt, and there’s too much trash from the packaging. But what if it is from your hubby (or your kids)?

What to do with Valentine's Day gifts

I discovered that I could extend the sentimental value of my husband’s gifts to by letting my 5-year-old, Kali, and 2-year-old, Kamie, create, play, cut, paint, and paste with it! This way, even if the plants and flowers wilt, even if the chocolates are gone, and the items in the boxes are all used up, we can still create more love and memories with the gifts! Here are some creative and fun activities we’ve done so far:

Flowers and plants 

We used flowers during our “Imagine Afternoon.”

 

 

 

 

Chocolates

We use the Ferrero box A LOT. One day, it is a bed for all of the girls’ Shopkins toys. On another day, it is the LOL toys’ pool. I have also used it for pattern identification through lines and colors.

 

 

Boxes

The girls have many dollhouses. They have small and even life-sized ones, but they seem to gravitate to boxes all the time! They always use used boxes of packages and chocolates to make more houses or carriages!

 

The best thing about these ideas? You can do them even if it’s not Valentine’s Day. Just a short walk outside the house one afternoon, and you can recreate all these art and love memories with your kids too!