Love letters: online valentines to make with your kids

You and your child select backgrounds, colours, and favourite character from PBS's Maya and Miguel, and then add props, words and your message. When your little one's masterpiece is complete, print it up or send as an e-card to all his friends. This website is child friendly enough that many preschoolers could navigate it with minimal help from mom or dad.

Where to Buy? PBS Kids

Cost: free

Choose from nine sweet designs that will either satisfy your valentine's sweet tooth or have you and the kids raiding the pantry for chocolate chips. Once you've chosen your theme, fill in the text box with your message and then click to send. The website can be slow at times but the message is clear: chocolate rocks!

Where to Buy? Hershey's

Cost: free

For the more advanced e-card sender - with crafty school-agers who can sit still for more than a few minutes ­- there's Smilebox. To create awesome digital valentines, download the Smilebox application and then get busy customizing scrapbooks, photo albums, slideshows, greeting cards and invitations. Kids who love to scrapbook will enjoy choosing the perfect photos, videos and music to share, via email, Facebook, DVD - or print them up for a beautiful keepsake.

Where to Buy? Smilebox

Cost: $40 US, look for free two-week trials, which are sometimes available

From Dora to Wubbzy, nickjr.com offers a fantastic selection of printable valentines and crafts for your wee one to colour, cut out and seal with a kiss. We like this 3-D Kai-Lan one and are excited to decorate it with our best pink and red sparkly glue.

Where to Buy? Nick Jr.

Cost: free

While some other e-card sites make things tricky if you use a Mac, Hallmark's e-cards and personalized cards are simple enough for most school-agers and adults to use, no matter what computer you have - oh, did we mention they're cute as a button? Add photos, customize your message and hunt for your favourite characters (Lightning McQueen anyone?) Plus, you can access most address books from the site, so sending your valentine to lots of friends at once is a snap.
Where to Buy? Hallmark

Cost: Varies, from free to $10 US

Looking for a personalized valentine that will warm hearts for years to come? Tiny Prints offers a wide range of beautiful, high-quality cards that are easy enough for kids to customize, but at these prices you might want to sit in the driver's seat! To order, select the design you want, download photos of your little heartbreakers and then add your own. Allow four to nine days for shipping.
Where to Buy? Tiny Prints

Cost: photo cards from $1.21 US each (minimum order $10), plus shipping