Fun Galentine's Day Activities for Tweens (2024)

Throwing a small Galentine’s Day gathering is a great Valentine alternative for tweens and teens who aren’t into the whole romance thing yet (and good for them if they’re not).

Personally, I don’t want my daughters to feel the pressure of romantic love on any day, but especially on February 14th. So instead of letting them wrap their self worth up into whether they have a partner for the “day of love,” I’m encouraging them to honor friendships by celebrating Galentine’s Day.

It’s a great option for older kids, especially those who don’t date yet and want nothing to do with a traditional Valentine’s Day.

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What is Galentine’s Day?

Galentine’s Day is a special day set aside to honor female friendships, celebrated on February 13th. It originated in 2010 on the show Parks and Recreation when the main character, Leslie Knope, threw a party to show the women in her life how much she loved and appreciated them.

Here’s how the character explained the day. “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Well, your kids may not have boyfriends to leave at home, but they can still have a blast kickin’ it with their friends.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day

This year, invite your tweens and teens to focus on friendships instead of romantic relationships. Those will come and go throughout their lives, but when they build strong bonds with friends, they’ll have the support system they’ll need for life’s ups and downs.

A small Galentine’s celebration is a great idea for tweens who want to still take part in the joy of Valentine’s Day without the romance. With these activities, they can show their friends how much they love them and have a ton of fun together.

Here are some ideas you can use to make Galentine’s Day incredibly entertaining for everyone.

Galentine Decorations

I would recommend keeping it simple, but let’s be real. If it involves tween girls, there has to be some bling involved. Combine your Valentine’s Day decorations with a few additional Galentine specific items to make your home extra festive. Pieces like this Galentine’s Day banner.

My oldest daughter made some window clings for the occasion. They’re incredibly easy to make. Basically, all you need is puffy paint and time. Your teens will definitely be able to make some of these for your windows and glass doors.

She made a Galentine’s Day ribbon banner, a teddy bear, and a waffle heart in honor of the occasion.

A Waffle Themed Menu

No gathering based on the show Parks and Rec is complete without waffles. If you or your teens are fans, you know what I’m talking about.

Luckily, it is something most kids enjoy eating, so it’s easy to build your menu around this yummy dish.

Of course, make some standard buttermilk waffles, but also get creative and cook up some other flavors, like funfetti, chocolate chip, or churro.

Instead of just putting them on a plate and calling it done, make it festive by creating a waffle bar for everyone to enjoy.

Topping ideas include:

• berry compote
• flavored syrup
• fresh berries
• peanut butter
• coconut
• pecans
• nutella
• and whipped cream, of course!

Throw in some fruit, breakfast meats, sparkling cider and you’ve got yourself a party.

No matter what time of day you’re hosting your gathering, you can’t go wrong with this menu. The waffles and toppings bar sound delicious and perfect for tweens and teens.

DIY Crafts for Tweens

While Leslie showered her friends with gifts, that’s not realistic for kids. Instead, have everyone make a craft together. You can choose something Valentine themed or a DIY project you think the girls would enjoy.

Then, they could either keep their finished piece or give it away as a gift.

Just pick something that’s teen friendly and easy to complete.

Remember, the goal is for everyone to have a blast hanging out together, so choose a craft that’s simple enough so everyone will finish in the time allotted and can chat easily while working.

Some ideas include:

• a cute winter sock snowman with Valentine inspired buttons, hat, and scarf
• a small ribbon loop Valentine’s Day tree
• an adorable heart-themed gnome or no-sew heart fleece pillows (#7 and #2 on this list of Valentine’s Day crafts)
• some painted heart rocks

Galentine’s Day Activities

No tween gathering would be complete without some fun games and activities. Here are a few your guests will enjoy.

• Play Valentine’s Scattergories with this free printable game. All you need is the printable, pencils, and a timer. It’s super easy and incredibly entertaining.
• Pull out a hilarious board game that fits the size of your group. My kids love playing 5 Second Rule, Throw Throw Burrito, and Dutch Blitz with friends.
• Go old school and play a game of spoons together.
• Challenge each other to a few rounds of a video game or online version that everyone loves, like Mario Kart, Just Dance, or Among Us.

Resources

There are a few things to make your Galentine’s Day extra-special.

• If you don’t have a waffle iron, now’s the time to invest in one. This is the one we’ve used for years.
• Add some text and heart balloons to complete your holiday décor.
• Grab this Galentine’s shirt that features heart shaped waffles to wear on February 13th.
• Put up a festive banner to celebrate the day.

As you can see, it’s easy to have fun honoring the love of friendship. Who knows, your tweens and teens may have such a great time that they’ll want to observe this awesome holiday every year.

How will your tweens and teens celebrate Galentine’s Day?