It is hard to think of February without immediately thinking of Valentine’s Day, the one day of the year that is solely dedicated to expressing our love and appreciation to those special people in our lives. However, in recent years it has become so commercialized, starting right after Christmas, that we are bombarded with messages that equate love to a dozen roses or a box of chocolates. But despite what the card makers and chocolate companies want you to believe, Valentine’s Day is about a lot more than that. It is a great holiday to share with kids and can be a good opportunity to think about how we express our love to them. Here are a few simple things we can do everyday to make sure they know they are loved:

Tell them: Saying “I love you” is the most obvious way we can tell our children how we feel. These three simple words can easily get lost in the shuffle of our daily lives, however. Between running out the door to school and racing to get everyone to bed on time, we can sometimes forget these important words that mean so much. So make it a point to say them.

One simple way to do this in our house is to make sure I always say it to my children before they leave for school, and it’s the last thing I say to them at night before I turn out the lights.

Another way to convey your love is to let them overhear you talking to your spouse, a friend or their grandparents about one of their recent accomplishments. They will get joy out of hearing you bragging about them- just a little. My daughter recently heard me telling a friend about how good she was getting with the Hula-Hoop. When I looked over at her, she had a big smile on her face and she knew I was so proud of her. A little bragging never hurts, but try to avoid going overboard; nothing is worse that a parent who can’t stop talking about how great their child is.

Show them: Children, just like the rest of us, need not only to be told about love but they also need to feel it. There are simple things you can do no matter how old your child is that will really get the point across. Some of these are obvious such as holding hands, hugging or giving them a special kiss. For me, I try at the end of each day to make sure I can think back and remember when I did these things, because sometimes the things that are most obvious are the first to be overlooked.

Another way to show them is during everyday tasks. The next time you help them get dressed, brush their hair, or put on a jacket, try to make a conscious effort to slow down and do it with a little extra love and care.

As far as nonphysical ways to show them you love them, try slipping a note in their lunchbox or drawing a picture on their napkin if they are too young to read, or even slipping a little something special in like a Hershey kiss or heart-shaped sandwich. Some other ideas include displaying their artwork or accomplishments in your home. I hang my children’s artwork in the kitchen and we have a special place in their bedrooms for ribbons and trophies. It is also fun to do little things when they least expect it such as buying their favorite cereal or making their favorite dinner. For bedtime, a favorite in our house is when we make up a silly song about them or a story where they have the starring role.

Create with them: Nothing says I love you like spending some quality time together. You do not have to be Martha Stewart for this one; it can be as simple as coloring a picture together. If you are more creative, you might try making homemade Valentines together or baking something special. If your children are not into art or crafts, try creating something they are interested in such as a Lego castle or a new track for their Thomas trains.

Another way is to create a special game or dance. My children love when they can put on a “show” before bed, which can be a new dance, reading a story, or acting out their favorite tale. This is always a fun way to end the day.

Showing our children how much we love them is our single most important job as parents, not just on Valentine’s Day but everyday. So take a moment and at the end of every day ask yourself, “How did I show my child I love them today?” and hopefully you can come up with at least a few ways.