Show love within the family

Wondering how to tame the teasing, name-calling and criticism that so often gets in the way of building good relationships between family members? Take advantage of Valentine's Day and the week leading up to it to mend relationships or simply to enhance them in a positive way.

Everyone will be saying something nice when they send these in-house valentines! This activity is a non-threatening vehicle for fostering communication in the family and for sharing some of those good feelings that are sometimes hard to express eye to eye. You might even start a new tradition in your family with the valentine box.

Here's how to get started:

Cut a 3-inch slot down the middle of a shoe-box lid. Cover the lid and the box separately with colorful paper, leaving the slot open. Decorate the lid and the box with valentine materials, such as heart-shaped doilies, stickers and hearts cut from construction paper. For extra writing fun, cut out alphabet letters or words from the newspaper to create simple Valentine's Day sayings and glue them on the box, too. Place the lid on the box and tape the sides together. Next, tape a small notepad and pencil or pen on a string to the top of the box.

Between now and Valentine's Day, keep the box on your kitchen table. Encourage all family members, and even friends who stop by, to pull a piece of paper off the notepad and jot down a special Valentine's note to each member of the family. Keep the comments coming, and encourage one another to be positive! Adults or older siblings might help the younger ones with the writing, or each person might draw a picture that expresses his or her feelings. Notes might include comments such as the following: "Katie, you bake great cookies! Love, Dad" or "Mom, Thanks for being such a nice mom. Jessie."

On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, gather together for a special meal. Open the box and take turns reading the big stack of "love" notes that have accumulated. Enthusiasm will have been building throughout the days preceding Valentine's Day, so expect your kids to be quite excited!

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Write Donna with your questions and ideas at www.donnasday.com. Donna's latest book, "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families," is available in bookstores nationwide. © Donna Erickson, Dist. by King Features Syndicate.