Love, Kindness & Kids: A Valentine Parenting Guide
WRITTEN BY: AUDREY CHANEY
It’s officially February, which means Valentine’s Day is sneaking up fast! If I’m honest, it’s so easy to get swept up in the chaos of it all. Classroom valentines, teacher gifts, themed breakfasts, Pinterest‑perfect everything. Before you know it, you’ve forgotten what the day is actually all about. As a mom of three boys, I think about kindness a lot. My kids aren’t perfect (*none of ours are*). They’re going to mess up. But raising kind humans is really important to me, and Valentine’s felt like the perfect excuse to talk about love in those everyday, simple moments! This little guide is just me sharing what we’re trying at home. I hope it’s an encouragement to you!
1. FEELINGS CHARADES
Did you know that kids learn emotions best when they can see them, feel them, and act them out? This activity blends movement, imagination, and emotional learning all together. Here’s how you do it!
1. Make a Feelings List
Start with a handful of core emotions:
happy
sad
excited
frustrated
nervous
proud
lonely
brave
You can add more once you make it through all of these.
2. Act It Out
Write each emotion down on separate pieces of paper and put them in a jar. Have one child draw an emotion and then encourage them to act it out using only their face and body. Your kiddos will LOVE this! Think:
slumped shoulders for “sad”
big chest and tall stance for “proud”
wiggly hands for “excited”
3. GUESS THE FEELING
Everyone else guesses the emotion. Keep it playful! There’s no “wrong,” just learning.
4. CONNECT IT TO REAL LIFE
After someone guesses correctly, ask one simple question. “When have you felt this way?”, or “What might help someone who feels this way?”
We have the perfect printable for this activity! Download our free Feelings Printable pack below.
2. KINDNESS ROLE-PLAY
Kindness role‑playing gives our kiddos a chance to practice some of the social skills we try to talk about whether it’s sharing, empathy, helping, or noticing others’ needs. Using Glo Pal characters to act out everyday situations makes these lessons feel fun and easy to understand. When kids see Alex, Blair, Lumi, Pippa, and Sammy experiencing real‑life moments like taking turns, checking on a friend, or offering something they love, it helps them learn what kindness looks like and gives them the confidence to actually try it themselves. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Lumi and Blair are swinging side by side when Pippa runs over, hoping for a turn. But uh‑oh, there are only two swings. Blair notices how much Pippa wants to join in, so he hops off and offers her his swing since he’s already had plenty of time. With a smile, he heads off to find something else fun to do at the park. It’s a simple moment of sharing and thoughtfulness that helps everyone feel included!
Sammy was running as fast as he could to catch the baseball when he suddenly tripped and tumbled to the ground. Instead of laughing, Pippa and Alex rushed over to check on him. They offered him a hand up and made sure he was okay. In that little moment, they chose empathy over teasing. They showed their friend care, comfort, and kindness when he needed it most!
Alex is looking at one of his favorite books. While reading, Alex thinks about Lumi and how much she enjoys this book too. When he finishes, he goes straight to her and asks if she’d like to read it next. He’s practicing empathy by noticing what someone else might enjoy!
3. MODEL KINDNESS
To be honest, being intentionally kind in the middle of real‑life parenting isn’t always easy for me. I want to be thoughtful, but sometimes the noise, the mess and the grind seem to all get in the way. I am, however, learning that modeling kindness doesn’t always mean being perfectly calm or patient. But it does mean that my kids are at least seeing me try.
Practice What You Preach
Taking a deep breath instead of snapping. Saying, “I’m sorry, that came out harsher than I meant for it to”. Pausing what I’m doing when they’re excited to tell me something instead of giving them half of my attention. Hopefully by being intentional with my words and actions, my kiddos will see what kindness looks like in the midst of the chaos. It may not look perfect, but it will definitely look human.
Narrate Kindness
Narrating kindness is one of the simplest habits that can make a pretty big impact. It may feel a little awkward to say things like, “I’m holding the door because it’s kind,” or “I’m thanking the cashier because they helped us,” it forces me to slow down and shows my kids what everyday acts of kindness look like in real circumstances. Those small moments are turned into practical lessons they can actually see and understand.
Be Kind To Yourself
When I say, “I need a minute to calm down,” or “I’m proud of myself for trying,” my kiddos see me practicing self-control and being self-aware. I can generally be very hard on myself, so I'm learning to show myself more grace. When my kiddos see me dealing with my own big emotions, it helps them deal with theirs in the future. Truthfully, modeling self‑kindness might be one of the most powerful lessons we can give them!
Small Moments Matter Most
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest impact. A gentle tone, a quick repair, a simple act of thoughtfulness…these tiny choices add up. Our kids don’t need perfect parents. They need to see us choosing kindness even when it’s hard so that when they are faced with real-life challenges, they can mirror how they saw us respond in difficult situations.
4. COMPLIMENT SANDWICH
Sometimes being kind means saying something honest…even when it feels a little difficult. And as parents, we know there’s a helpful way to do that and a not so helpful way to do that. That’s where the Compliment Sandwich saves the day. It’s honesty sandwiched between kindness. You start with something warm, share the truth that needs attention, and end with another genuine positive. It keeps the conversation gentle, shows your little one you’re on their team, and reminds them you see all the good mixed in with the stuff that needs work.
Here are a couple of examples of parent to child interactions:
- “Hey buddy, I love how excited you get during playtime. I did notice toys were left all over the floor, and we need to clean them up so no one gets hurt. I know you’re such a great helper. Let’s tackle it together.”
- “You are so creative when you play. Your ideas always make me smile! I did notice you got frustrated and yelled at your sister. We need to work on using kinder words. I know you care about her so much. I’ve seen you be such a sweet big brother! Let’s try again together.”
5. CELEBRATE WINS
Celebrating wins in our kiddos matters because it helps them see the good in themselves, not just the times they mess up. They’re human! They’re going to make mistakes, have big feelings, and get it wrong sometimes. When we pause to notice when they do get it right, it builds confidence in them! Celebrating the big and small things shows them that kindness is worth practicing, even when it might not be easy.
Make A Big Deal Out Of It
When you see your child do something kind without being asked, pause whatever you’re doing and give them your full attention. Say something like: “Hey, hold on! I want to celebrate what you just did. That was incredibly kind.” This matters because it allows your child to feel seen. This kind of positive reinforcement shows that kindness is worth noticing! Moments like that really stick with them and shows them that kindness is something they can be proud of.
Retell the Story Later To Someone Else
Later in the day when you’re around another adult, retell what happened in front of your child. Say something like: “Hey, guess what Peter did today? He noticed his friend was sad and went over to check on her. It was such a thoughtful thing for him to do!”. Who wouldn't glow when they hear someone talking so positively about them?! It helps your kiddo connect this to their identity...that they're someone who is kind!
Connect Their Action to Their Character
Instead of just saying “Good job,” say something like, “You shared your toy even though it was your favorite. That was so generous of you!”. This matters because it shifts the focus from the action to who they actually are - their character! Again, it shows that kindness is part of their identity, it not just something they do. They'll want to show kindness again and again!
If all of this seems overwhelming to you and you feel like you've got your work cut out for you, just pick one of these things! Work on it over the next few weeks, and see if it makes a difference. After that, you can pick out another one and then another one. Showing love and kindness to your kiddos is absolutely worth your time and will pay off significantly! Remember, don't let perfection be the enemy of good...it's not if you fall, it's if you get back up and try again. Let's make the world a little kinder together, by starting in our own homes! Happy Valentine's, Pal!
