Valentine's Day Food and Fun Ideas for Kids - Involve Children in This Celebration of Love.

How will your children remember this St. Valentine's Day? Make it memorable!

Besides making sure your children have enough Valentine's for everyone in their school room, what else are you planning for this special day? Will your children be able to recall the day with fond memories or will it be just another ho-hum regular day? Valentine's Day is not only a day when lovers exchange gifts of affection, but it is also a time when the love of parents and children, families and friends can be celebrated.

For some ideas on how to spice up this day devoted to special people in your life, think red and white. Have a party featuring these colors. Invite someone to share this time with your family. Remember that grandparents and the elderly enjoy parties. Your children's friends will enjoy being invited, too.

Get out the red construction paper, lace doilies, heart stickers, glue and fashion placemats for your party. Have the children use their creative talents.

Your menu can include a Love Potion, Queen of Hearts Tea Sandwiches, and Apple Arrows. The Love Potion can be any red juice, such as cranberry, strawberry, or cherry. For the tea sandwiches, spread bread with a mixture of cream cheese and any red fruit spread. Cut into heart shaped sizes with a cookie cutter and place on a pretty plate. Cut apples into wedges for the Apple Arrows and dip in lemon juice or pineapple juice to prevent turning brown. Place Arrows around the Tea Sandwiches and you have the setting for a fun get-together.

Add some games, such as A-Tisket A-Tasket, and other active games. Your children will remember fondly the day you took time out of your busy schedule to include a fun celebration on this St. Valentine's Day.

Menu is from "Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids: Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun" by Amy Houts, former pre-school teacher and children's librarian.

Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids (Images Unlimited Publishing, $16.95 ppd) is available at amazon.com and on order through bookstores or publisher.