Valentine’s Day is generally thought of as a holiday for couples. And if you are part of a couple, you’d be wise to respect it as such—otherwise, your spouse/partner may give you some serious grief.

That being said, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration of romance. It is a celebration of love. And as a celebration of love, Valentine’s Day can and should include the entire family—whether you are a single parent or part of a couple.

Below are some creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day together as a family. There’s no need to limit the celebration to one day, either … it can span the entire week!

Activities for the Whole Family

Have a Valentine’s Exchange

Remember those paper bags from elementary school? Grab a handful and decorate them together as a family; write the name of each family member on a bag. Buy a box of store-bought cards (or better yet, make your own). Write one thing you like about each member of the family on a card (no peeking!). If your kids are too young to write, have them color a picture on each card instead. Fill out enough cards for each day of the week; drop one in each bag every day. At the end of the week, open the bags together and share the comments/drawings.

Host a Family Pajama Party

Establish an annual family Valentine’s gift tradition, like new pajamas. (The tradition matters more than the gift itself or the cost involved). With or without the gift, you can have a family pajama party on Valentine’s Eve (so as not to conflict with date night). Play board games, make popcorn and watch a favorite family movie together.

Celebrate with a Themed Dinner Party…

Don’t get enough family dinners together? Set an irresistible table with homemade Valentine’s Day decorations. Enlist the kids to make the decorations and set the table; free online decorating tips can help get the creative juices flowing.

Launch an Attack of Kindness

Recruit the kids to help you “ambush” your spouse with expressions of love throughout the week. Encourage them to give extra hugs to your spouse. Ask them to surprise him or her by doing an extra chore that your spouse normally shoulders. But don’t just pawn off chores onto your kids; do an extra chore or two yourself as a gift to your spouse. This helps shift the mindset from chores as a duty to chores as an expression of love and consideration.

Write a Lunch Box Note for Your Child … Together

Slip a quick love note into your child’s lunch box. If you are married, have your spouse write a message on the same piece of paper. Seeing a note from the two of you together on the same card will make your kid’s day.

Schedule a Family Photo Shoot

Grab your camera and have a family photo session. Snap a picture of each family member with every other member of the family—just two people per picture. Print the photos out and have each person make a handmade and handwritten Valentine’s card for the person in the picture with them.

Tell Your Love Story

Take advantage of the occasion to tell your children your story as a couple—how you met, why you fell in love, what you have learned from your spouse/partner, etc. Keep it short, sweet and age-appropriate. Your kids may outwardly protest, but inwardly, they’ll love hearing their parents say nice things about each other. Throw a little kiss on the cheek too and watch them really squirm.

Keep Your Date

Finding ways to incorporate your children into the Valentine’s festivities doesn’t mean you should neglect your spouse. You can celebrate Valentine’s Day all week long with the family. Just keep one night that week reserved strictly for you and your spouse. Making time for “date night” as parents is always a challenge, especially on a budget. But time alone is vital to a healthy marriage, which ultimately benefits your children. So whether it’s a big night out on the town or just a few hours snatched alone together, be sure your spouse remains at the forefront of the Valentine’s celebration.

Leave a Legacy

Whether you are married or a single parent, Valentine’s Day serves as an important reminder to leave a legacy of love to your children. One way to capture this legacy is to start a family scrapbook; update it each year at Valentine’s season. Along with family photos, write down what you’ve learned about life (and love) and what you hope for your children’s future.