Cancer fatigue is well–exhausting. It can be difficult to get off the couch let alone make a holiday like Valentine’s Day fun-filled and special for young kids. Some of the best advice that I received from other moms coping with cancer was to keep it simple. Plan crafts, snacks and games that allow you to maximize the fun while minimizing your effort. 

Here are some tasty and crafty ideas to jump-start Valentine’s Day for you and your little sweethearts.

Bake a Heart-Filled Snack Together

One of our favorite snacks is Chocolate Pretzel Conversation Hearts. (Courtesy of Amy Locurto)

Ingredients needed: Pretzels, Rolos Candy, Conversation Hearts and waxed paper.

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees 
2. Line wax paper on a cookie sheet. 
3. Add pretzels and place a Rolo candy on each one. 
4. Bake for 2-3 minutes until softened. 
5. Spill out the conversation hearts and let everyone choose their favorite ones (find the best ones with the writing directly in the middle.) 
6. Remove pretzels from oven and gently press a conversation heart on top of the Rolo. 

Let them completely cool then enjoy!

(Photo courtesy of Doityourselfdivas.com)

Get Crafty

A simple yet fun craft project to do together is to make Valentine’s Day hats or crowns. Supplies needed: Paper, scissors, tape, heart stickers, markers and red pipe cleaners (Optional). 

And when it comes to Valentine’s Day stickers, these eye-catching, super-sized adhesive stickers  from Amazon are perfect for making cards, decorating goody bags and for creating memories.

Let the Games Begin

Games are a wonderful way to enjoy family fun and Bingo is always a crowd pleaser. This special edition from Amazon is all about the love, featuring cards printed with Valentine’s Day symbols like hearts, gifts and candy. This set includes thick, reusable game cards so the fun can continue long after Valentine’s Day is a sweet memory.  

For more lifestyle tips for moms coping with cancer, read the blogs in our series, “From One Mother to Another.”

Happy Valentine’s Day from your sweethearts at Cancer Be Glammed!