Adorable Activities! Love Is In The Air

Use the excitement and buzz surrounding Valentine’s Day to spend some fun family time together, while encouraging kindness and gratitude There’s nothing (aside from coffee) that makes the world go round quite as much as love, and February 14 is all about celebrating those warm and fuzzy feelings with the people who touch your hear t the very most. And while your pre-kids Valentine’s Day routine may have included candlelit dinners, chilled champers and lavish lingerie, it’s still possible to embrace that loving feeling with small people in tow. Start by discussing the origin of Valentine’s Day – something of a mystery, as there are actually not one, but three Saint Valentine’s to be found in the record books, with little known of their lives. The Valentine’s Day that we now celebrate was most likely created in the 14th century by the English poet and author, Geoffrey Chaucer. He wrote of the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia: “For this was on St Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” It was believed during this period that birds would pair for life each year in mid-February, leading to the association with romantic love and partnership that endures to this day.

DIY LOVE LETTERS

It first became customary for lovers to exchange handwritten notes back in the 18th century, when Valentine’s cards would be cut into heart-, dove- and cherub-shaped outlines and finished with lace. These days, February 14 sees us showering our loved ones with gifts and even jewellery; e-cards are an increasingly popular way of marking the day. Encourage children to hand-decorate a card for the person that they love and admire the most – be this a family member, teacher or friend. You can provide them with simple materials such as construction paper, stickers, markers, paper hearts, glitter and glue, and let them get creative. Add to the fun by encouraging children to send their message anonymously, leaving the recipient to guess who their secret admirer might be. A fun twist for little ones is to sign their name in invisible ink (make this at home by blending water with lemon juice). They can then offer a few cryptic clues as to their true identity. The grand reveal can be achieved by simply holding the paper up to the light. Valentine’s Day gives children a chance to tell those who are close to them the things they appreciate and love about them. A fun way for them to do this is by crafting a gratitude box; a fun and af fordable Valentine’s Day gift, that’s also very meaningful. Give your child a shoebox to decorate and then have them fill it with unsigned letters and tokens of appreciation. Deliver the box in secret and try not to get caught!

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

For many an old romantic, Valentine’s Day is synonymous with red roses. What you may not know is that your bouquet may hold hidden significance – 50 red roses are said to symbolise eternal love, 12 are for gratitude, while two bound together represent an engagement. Always count your stems carefully!

But it’s not all about the rose, which – especially at this time of year – can be over-priced and hard to find. Hinduism recognises the jasmine flower as a symbol of love, while pink, red and white carnations all carry romantic associations. Meanwhile, here in Hong Kong, our beloved bamboo not only makes for sturdy scaffolding, but also represents resilience and grace, making it a thoughtful component of any Valentine’s Day bouquet.

To get the kids in on the act, take a trip to Prince Edward then wander Flower Market Road, allowing them to customise their very own bunch of blooms.

Alternatively, you can help the kids make their own colourful paper bouquets. Cut individual petals, and then use a paper punch to create small holes in the bottom of each one, before threading through a lollipop “stem” to fasten your flower together. Wrap in brown paper for an authentic florist ’s feel then let them distribute a little floral sweetness to friends.

HANG OUT AT HOME

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your kids and show them how much you love them. So why not organise a Valentine’s Day picnic or scavenger hunt? You could set aside time after school (February 14 falls on a Wednesday this year) to snuggle up together with some popcorn and watch a romantic or family-friendly movie. Or you could invite besties over for a full-blown Valentine’s Day party, complete with heart-themed crafts and games, a piñata and sweet treats. For something a little different, you could surprise the kids with a Valentine’s Day photo shoot – set up a fun backdrop and props and let them take turns posing for cute Valentine’s Day photos. Or make a Valentine’s Day time capsule – have the kids collect special items and memories from the day and put them in a box to be opened and enjoyed in the future. Whatever you end up doing, you’ll need some fuel aka sweet Valentine’s Day treats, so get the kids into the kitchen to bake. Little chefs will love helping you whip up chocolate bark, heart-shaped sugar cookies, or crispy rice treats. For something healthier that doubles up as a fun family activity, try dipping strawberries in melted chocolate before cooling in the fridge. (Alternatively, stock up on Belgian truffles and save them until the kids are asleep.)

A DOZEN GAMES TO PLAY

• Valentine’s Day tic-tac-toe • Make sentences using “conversation heart” candies • Valentine’s Day bingo • See who can decorate a Valentine’s Day card fastest • Valentine’s Day word searches • Make a DIY hopscotch game using cut-out hearts • Valentine’s Day “Outburst” with DIY topics • Pin the arrow on the heart • Valentine’s Day colouring pages • Play “I spy” (pink or red things only) • Valentine’s Day ring toss using pink or red cups • Try to blindly identify different types of chocolate

COUPLES ONLY

While it’s great to share the love with all the family, it’s important for busy parents to take time together. To help with this, the Auberge is laying on the love on February 14 with a Valentine’s Day Staycation Package which includes one night in a mountain view room, breakfast buffet for two and set dinner for two, plus a cocktail-making workshop. If all that indulgence sounds too much, grab your significant other and hit up The Trail Hub’s annual Valentine’s Day Race, scheduled for February 4 this year. Starting and finishing at Treasure Island on Pui O Beach, you can choose to run either the 15-kilometre Tough Love or the 9-kilometre Easy Love, both open to teams of two. All partners must finish the course together, making it a trust, as well as a physical exercise, and a great way to work up a sweat together!