Three Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Toddler | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

Toddlers make all of the littlest holidays so much fun! If you’re at a loss for how to celebrate upcoming Valentine’s Day with your little one, I have a few ideas!

Crafts are always fun. Kids love scissors, glue, paint, stickers, and sparkles, of course! Depending on the level of messiness, I mean independence, you can do anything from assisting your child with turning their hand or prints into heart-shaped Valentines to putting some of their favorite treats in goody bags with personalized labels. For example, ‘You are the apple of my eye’ or ‘Orange you glad we are friends?’ Valentine’s Day treats don’t always have to be candy!

If crafts aren’t your thing (you can find the cutest store-bought Valentines at Target, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby these days), you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day by doing some fun activities around the house. One thing you can do is create a list of people (friends and family) and have your toddler say one thing they love about each person and then write it on the list. The answers are typically both heartwarming and hilarious.

Personalized gifts are my favorite because it gives you a memento to look back on as your children grow. Creating valentines with your child’s face and a little ode to their personality is always a great option. In South End Charlotte, there is a Confetti Hearts Wall mural created to enhance the beauty of Charlotte and to create more joy. Who doesn’t want to spread love, joy, and kindness during Valentine’s Day? You can head over and take a peek at some of my previous Valentine’s Day sessions! I’ll be sharing the ones from this year soon!

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day activities to do with toddlers?

The Perks of Private Santa Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

A trip to see Santa is such a quintessential childhood experience; the visit brings such joy to little ones and their families. While Santa is pure magic for kids, there are so many factors of visiting Santa in a mall or larger setting that can make the experience less than ideal for families.

A private Santa portrait provides a special, individualized experience for each and every child. Families can plan around nap times and other activities and skip the long lines in order to enjoy a moment of togetherness and to soak in the holiday spirit.

Not only are the little ones able to see Santa; they are also able to visit with his better half—Mrs. Claus! This is an experience that is not offered very frequently, and it really brings the entire Santa experience to life.

Private sessions also allow for all kinds of special considerations. For example, a private setting can be more manageable for children with sensory processing challenges. Also, for children with weakened immune systems (like all of those sweet preemies I photograph) the private settings create a cleaner environment with fewer chances to leave Santa with any unwanted ‘gifts’. Even children on home ventilators are welcome, as I am comfortable working with all kinds of medical equipment.

My private Santa sessions begins with coffee, hot chocolate, and some sweet holiday treats. The aroma of WoodWick’s Frasier Fir candle fills my home studio, and creates a relaxing space for families to dwell while the children craft their wish lists. When Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive, the little ones can jump right up—the shy littles are allowed plenty of time to warm up before sharing their wish list. All of these factors add up to create relaxed, authentic photographs for each family.

Below is a sneak peek of a few 2019 private sessions with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Tell me in the comments why you would choose a private Santa session over a visit to the mall! I’m interested to hear your thoughts!

My Valentine | Charlotte Newborn Photographer | Charlotte Family Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography | Charlotte, North Carolina

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing you a day full of hugs, kisses, and happiness with your Valentine!