Love Loot: A Sleep Consultant's Take on Valentine's Day Gifts for Kids

As a sleep consultant based in the UK, I've dedicated my business to helping families establish healthy sleep routines, improving sleep quality for their rascals and navigate the challenges that come with raising children. From bedtime battles to night wakings, my focus has always been on promoting restful nights and fostering healthy sleep habits. However, amidst my efforts to support families in achieving better sleep, I can't help but shake my head at the notion of buying Valentine's Day presents for children.

Let's be honest: Valentine's Day is a holiday traditionally reserved for expressing love and affection between romantic partners. It's a day for couples to celebrate their relationship and indulge in romantic gestures. (Boke!) So why, oh why, has it become commonplace to include children in this adult-centric holiday?

I'm all for showing love and appreciation to my rascals every day of the year (which is expensive enough!) but the idea of buying Valentine's Day presents for children seems, quite frankly, absurd. Do our children really need another excuse to expect gifts and treats? Where does it stop?!

As a sleep consultant, I've seen firsthand the importance of setting boundaries and managing expectations when it comes to parenting. Children thrive on consistency, like a consistent sleep schedule, structure, and routines—not on material gifts or indulgent gestures, regardless of the joy that those material gifts bring. 

I believe buying Valentine's Day presents for children sends the wrong message about the true meaning of the holiday. Maybe, instead of focusing on superficial gifts and commercialised expressions of love, why not use Valentine's Day as an opportunity to teach our children about the value of kindness, compassion, and empathy?

Rather than showering them with presents, let's encourage our children to show love and appreciation for others through thoughtful acts of kindness. Whether it's writing a heartfelt letter to a grandparent, baking cookies for a neighbor, or simply using kind words to someone who needs them, these gestures hold far more meaning than any store-bought gift ever could.

In my line of work, I've learned that the most precious gift we can give our Rascals is the gift of time and attention. Spending quality time together, engaging in meaningful conversations, and creating cherished memories—that's what truly matters.

So this Valentine's Day, let's shift our focus away from the pressure to buy extravagant gifts for our children. Instead, let's celebrate love in its purest form: through acts of kindness, generosity, and genuine connection.

As a sleep consultant, my hope is that families will embrace the true spirit of Valentine's Day and use it as an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of love and friendship that unite us all.

After all, when it comes to parenting, the greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of love—not just on Valentine's Day, but every single day of the year.

Sleep Tight x

(Any views or opinions expressed in this post are my own)