Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love and friendship, and for preschoolers, it's a great opportunity to express affection through creativity. Holiday-themed crafts allow young children to explore new materials and make unique gifts for others.
Crafting is more than just a fun activity; it’s a valuable tool for learning and development. While children are gluing, cutting, and coloring, they are also building essential skills that support their growth. These projects can spark joy and foster a sense of accomplishment in young learners.
Why Valentine's Day crafts?
Integrating crafts into your curriculum is a powerful way to support early childhood development. When children participate in art activities, they are not just making something beautiful; they are building the foundation for future learning.
Fine motor skills
One of the most significant benefits of crafting is the development of fine motor skills. Activities like holding a paintbrush, squeezing a glue bottle, or cutting with safety scissors require precise hand-eye coordination. These small movements strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers, which is crucial for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and tying shoes later on.
Creativity and expression
Art provides a safe space for children to express themselves without the need for words. Preschoolers often have big emotions but limited vocabulary. Through colors, shapes, and textures, they can communicate their feelings and ideas. Encouraging creativity helps children learn to think outside the box and solve problems, skills that are valuable in all areas of life.
Social-emotional learning
Valentine's Day crafts are particularly well-suited for social-emotional learning. Creating a gift for someone else teaches children about generosity, empathy, and the joy of giving. It opens up conversations about what it means to be a good friend and how to show care for others. Working on crafts in a group setting also encourages sharing supplies, taking turns, and appreciating the work of peers.
Activities Across Developmental Domains
A free guide with activity ideas that foster child development across developmental domains.
Valentine's day activity ideas
Here are engaging and age-appropriate craft ideas that you can easily implement in your childcare program. These activities are designed to be fun, manageable, and full of learning opportunities.
Valentine's Day cards
Handmade cards are a classic Valentine's Day tradition. They are simple to set up and allow for endless creativity.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper or cardstock (red, pink, white)
- Washable markers or crayons
- Stickers, glitter, or sequins
- Glue sticks
- Safety scissors
Instructions:
- Fold a piece of construction paper in half to create a card base.
- Encourage children to draw pictures or write messages on the front and inside of the card. For younger children, you can write their dictated message.
- Provide stickers and other decorations for them to personalize their creations.
- If they are practicing scissor skills, they can cut out heart shapes from contrasting paper to glue onto their cards.
Heart-shaped animals
Transforming simple shapes into animals is a delightful way to explore geometry and creativity. Children can make "love bugs," "heart bears," or any creature they imagine using heart shapes.
Materials needed:
- Various sizes of pre-cut paper hearts (different colors)
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners (for antennae or legs)
- Glue
- Markers
Instructions:
- Show children how a large heart can be a body and smaller hearts can be ears, feet, or wings.
- Let them arrange the hearts on a background sheet to form an animal.
- Glue the pieces in place.
- Add googly eyes and use markers to draw mouths or noses.
- Attach pipe cleaners for extra details like whiskers or antennae.
Decorate heart-shaped cookies or treats
Cooking or food decoration activities are always a hit with preschoolers. It engages multiple senses—sight, touch, smell, and taste—and offers a practical lesson in following directions. Be sure to check for any allergies before starting this activity.
Materials needed:
- Plain heart-shaped sugar cookies (pre-made or store-bought)
- Frosting (pink, red, white)
- Sprinkles and edible decorations
- Plastic knives or popsicle sticks for spreading
Instructions:
- Set up a station with cookies and small bowls of frosting and toppings.
- Demonstrate how to spread the frosting on the cookie.
- Allow children to decorate their cookies with sprinkles.
- Once finished, they can enjoy their treat or package it as a gift.
Valentine's Day sensory bottles
Sensory bottles are calming tools that captivate young children. These bottles are excellent for emotional regulation, helping children calm down as they watch the slow-moving glitter. They are perfect for quiet time and can be used long after the holiday is over.
Materials needed:
- Clear plastic water bottles (empty and clean)
- Warm water
- Clear glue or glitter glue
- Heart-shaped confetti, glitter, and sequins
- Red or pink food coloring (optional)
- Super glue (for sealing the lid)
Instructions:
- Fill the water bottle about one-third full with warm water.
- Add a generous amount of clear glue or glitter glue. The more glue you add, the slower the glitter will move.
- Let children add the confetti, glitter, and sequins.
- Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water, leaving a little room at the top. Add a drop of food coloring if desired.
- Secure the lid tightly with super glue (adults only).
- Shake the bottle to mix everything and watch the hearts float and swirl.
Paper plate heart weaving
Weaving is a fantastic activity for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This craft transforms simple paper plates into textured art pieces that families will love hanging in their windows. It is quiet, focused work that can help calm a busy classroom.
Materials needed:
- White paper plates (uncoated works best)
- Red, pink, or purple yarn
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Tape or plastic yarn needles
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Before the activity begins, lightly draw a heart shape in the center of each paper plate. Use your scissors to poke a hole and cut out the heart shape, leaving the rim and about two inches of the plate intact.
- Punch holes around the border of the heart cutout, spacing them about half an inch apart.
- Cut long strands of yarn. If you are working with toddlers, wrap a piece of tape around one end of the yarn to create a stiff "needle" that is easy to thread. For older preschoolers, you can use plastic yarn needles.
- Tape one end of the yarn to the back of the plate. Encourage the children to thread the yarn through the holes across the heart opening. They can go in a pattern or cross over randomly—there is no wrong way to do it.
- Once they fill the heart to their liking, tape the loose end to the back of the plate.
Teacher tip: This activity scales well for different ages. Toddlers might only make a few passes with the yarn, while older children can create intricate web-like designs.
Cardboard tube "love bugs"
Upcycling materials is a great way to keep costs down while teaching children about reusing items. These adorable "love bugs" allow for immense creativity, as each child can give their bug a unique personality.
Materials needed:
- Empty toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls cut in half
- Washable paint (red, pink, purple)
- Construction paper
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes (optional; markers work too)
- Glue sticks or school glue
- Black markers
Instructions:
- Have the children paint their cardboard tubes in their chosen Valentine’s colors. While these dry, you can move on to cutting out the other parts.
- Fold a piece of construction paper in half and cut out a heart shape. When you unfold it, the two humps of the heart look like wings.
- Glue the painted tube onto the center of the heart wings so the wings stick out the back.
- Glue on googly eyes or draw eyes with a marker. Draw a smile and stick on any other decorations like buttons or sequins.
- Tape or glue two small pieces of pipe cleaner inside the top of the tube to create antennae. You can curl the ends for a silly effect.
Stress-free modification: If painting creates too much mess for your schedule, use colored markers or wrap the tubes in construction paper instead.
Coffee filter heart suncatchers
This craft doubles as a science experiment. Children will watch with fascination as colors blend and spread through the paper. The result is a vibrant, stained-glass effect that brightens up the classroom windows.
Materials needed:
- White coffee filters
- Washable markers (ensure they are not permanent)
- Spray bottles filled with water
- Scissors
- Newspaper or plastic trays (for drying)
Instructions:
- Flatten the coffee filters. You can cut them into heart shapes beforehand, or let older children practice their scissor skills by cutting their own.
- Encourage the children to scribble all over the filter with markers. They do not need to color in the lines or fill every white space. Scribbles work perfectly for this.
- Place the colored filters on a tray or newspaper. Let the children lightly mist their artwork with the spray bottle.
- As the water hits the marker ink, the colors will separate and bleed together, creating a tie-dye effect.
- Allow them to dry completely before taping them to a sunny window.
Learning moment: Ask the children to predict what will happen when the water touches the ink. Discuss how the colors mix to create new shades (e.g., red and white making pink, or blue and red making purple).
Celery rose stamp cards
Creating cards for families is a Valentine's staple. Instead of traditional drawing, try using celery stalks to create beautiful, rose-like prints. This organic stamping method produces impressive results with very little effort.
Materials needed:
- Celery bunch (the base end)
- Red and pink tempera paint
- White cardstock or heavy construction paper
- Green markers or crayons
- Paper plates (for paint pallets)
Instructions:
- Cut the stalks off a bunch of celery, leaving about three inches of the base intact. The cut end reveals a natural rose pattern. (Save the stalks for a snack later!)
- Pour a shallow amount of paint onto paper plates. Show the children how to dip the cut end of the celery into the paint and then press it firmly onto their paper.
- Once the paint dries, children can use green markers to draw stems and leaves connecting their "roses."
- Help the children write a message inside or let them dictate a note for you to write.
Mess-free "shake" painting hearts
If you want a vibrant art project but cannot face the cleanup of paint brushes and spills, shake painting is the answer. This sensory-friendly activity contains the mess completely, making it perfect for toddlers and energetic groups.
Materials needed:
- White paper or cardstock cut into heart shapes
- Sealable containers (plastic jars, food storage containers, or large Ziploc bags)
- Washable paint
- Marbles, dried beans, or golf balls
- Tape (to secure the paper)
Instructions:
- Place a paper heart inside your container. If you are using a jar, you can curl the paper slightly to fit. If using a box, tape the heart to the bottom so it stays in place.
- Squeeze a few drops of different colored paints onto the paper. Drop in a few marbles, beans, or balls.
- Close the lid or seal the bag tightly. Ensure it is secure! Hand it to the child and encourage them to shake, shimmy, and rattle the container.
- Open the container and carefully remove the paper heart. The marbles will have rolled the paint across the paper, creating cool, abstract streaks.
Stress-free modification: Use Ziploc bags for the easiest cleanup. After removing the artwork, you can simply toss the bag if you do not wish to wash it.
Tips for managing craft time without stress
Even simple crafts can feel chaotic without the right approach. Consider these strategies to create a supportive and stress-free environment for your childcare program:
- Prep in batches: Cut all shapes, punch all holes, and portion out materials before the children sit down. The less waiting time, the more engaged the children will remain.
- Small groups are key: Instead of having the whole class do the craft at once, set up a craft station. Rotate small groups of 3–4 children through the station while others engage in free play. This allows you to provide individual attention.
- Embrace imperfection: A child’s heart might look like a blob, or their "love bug" might have three eyes. That is wonderful. Resist the urge to fix their work. The value lies in their expression, not the final product.
- Focus on connection: Use craft time to talk with the children. Ask them who they love, what makes them happy, or what their favorite color is. These conversations build strong bonds and social-emotional skills.
How brightwheel can support your program
Running a childcare program is no small task, especially during busy seasons. Brightwheel makes it easier by streamlining communication and keeping families connected to what's happening in the classroom. With the app, you can easily share updates about upcoming events, like Valentine’s Day celebrations, without relying on printed flyers or individual emails.
Teachers can log activities and share photos of children’s crafts with families in real-time, keeping parents engaged and informed about their child’s day. By simplifying the way you communicate and share moments, brightwheel allows you to focus less on admin tasks and more on creating meaningful experiences for the children in your care.
Make this Valentine's Day memorable
Valentine's Day crafts for preschoolers are a wonderful way to celebrate the season while promoting essential developmental skills. From fine motor practice to social-emotional growth, these simple activities offer rich learning opportunities disguised as fun.
