With love, your grandparent: Things to do with grandkids this week

An involved grandparent takes every possible opportunity to bond with grandchildren, and attending Valentine’s Day week events in Atlanta together is a sweet way to let young ones know they’re cherished.

These family-friendly events involve none of the romantic pressure or stress Valentine’s can inspire. If you have bad associations with Feb. 14, celebrating with beloved children can help you reclaim the holiday in the spirit of affection and caring.

Here are grandparent-grandkid mid-February options:

Cereal Saturday at the Center for Puppetry Arts

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, free with museum admission $16.50 adults, $12.50 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta.

Grandparents may be the best escorts to appreciate the old-time television puppet shows presented in a two-hour block on select “Cereal Saturdays” at Atlanta’s renowned Center for Puppetry Arts. The screening room is set up with comfy couches and a den vibe, and OJ, cereal and milk are available for purchase — along with coffee, mercifully.

You may remember any number of shows from your own childhood or from parenting, and you’ll be able to share your opinions — and the delight and surprise — of them with the young ones. “Seriously, grandma?” might be one possible reaction as tots and tweens see their first screening of “Howdy Doody” or that interminable “Song That Never Ends” from “Lamb Chop’s Play-Along.” Bear in mind, though, you’ll never be certain which show will be featured on a given month’s Cereal Saturday, since the lineup is only announced the day of. But you can always dig up your own favorites online if they don’t make the cut — or come back for next month’s event to see different televised puppet show selections. Buy tickets here.

Art and Soul: Roswell Roots Kids and Family Celebration

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15. Free. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell.

Share your love of wholesome entertainment and encourage your grandkids to be creative with this interactive day of performance and activities. Center Stage will showcase acts including Squeeze the Clown, a mashup of Motown, clowning and slapstick humor, and Big Thinkers Science Exploration’s “Freeze Frame!” demonstration of very cool science experiments. Another highlight is author Jerry White bringing alive his book, "Anasi and the Colorful Kente Cloth" at a 1 p.m. performance. If your group is the “can’t sit still” type, you can have fun with roaming performers and hands-on activities throughout the center. Should you have family members who might melt down or get grumpy, this extravaganza is ideal — admission is free and you can come and go on your own schedule.

Family Valentine’s Day Concert at Atlanta Symphony Hall

1:30 or 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, tickets $20 plus, not recommended for 4 and under. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta.

An afternoon at the symphony is traditionally elegant, of course, but this Valentine’s Day Concert is designed for kids 12 and under, though not recommended for anyone under 5. You can dress in finery, for fun, or wear blue jeans and still fit in with the audience. Some of the works made more accessible include “Marion’s Theme” from “Raiders of the Lost Ark" and Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Show up a little early so the kiddos can enjoy face painting and arts and crafts in the lobby. If you or your spouse are symphony newbies as well as the children, this is a low-key introduction to melodic bliss — and each show only lasts a little over an hour. Buy tickets here.