Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to spread love and joy, even in a daycare setting. Here are some delightful and crafty ideas to make this day special for the little ones.
1. Heart-Felt Crafts
Creating felt hearts with little loops of ribbon is a delightful sensory experience for toddlers. I remember making these with my niece, and she loved the different textures. They’re soft, safe, and perfect for little hands to explore.
Some ideas to consider:
- Assorted Felt Fabric Sheets: A collection of colorful felt sheets perfect for crafting soft and tactile heart shapes. Great for sensory play.
- Grosgrain Ribbon Pack: A variety pack of grosgrain ribbons in bright colors, ideal for creating loops on felt hearts and other craft projects.
- Fabric Glue for Crafts: Child-safe fabric glue that securely adheres felt pieces and embellishments without the need for sewing.
2. Handprint Keepsakes
Transform tiny handprints into a heart-shaped masterpiece. This craft not only engages children but also creates a cherished keepsake for parents. My mom still treasures the handprint craft I made in kindergarten.
These products might be useful:
- Non-toxic Washable Tempera Paint Set: A set of bright, non-toxic washable paints perfect for creating colorful handprint crafts and easy cleanup.
- Heart-shaped Canvas Boards: Pre-cut heart-shaped canvas boards that are ideal for creating personalized handprint art pieces.
- Child-Safe Paint Brushes: A set of easy-to-hold, child-safe paint brushes perfect for young artists to explore their creativity.
3. Valentine’s Day Sensory Bins
Fill a bin with red and pink items, like pom-poms and heart-shaped cutouts, for a sensory exploration. Kids love digging through and discovering treasures. It’s a hit every time in my crafting workshops.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Assorted Red and Pink Pom-Poms: A collection of soft and colorful pom-poms, perfect for sensory play and crafting activities. They are great for adding a tactile element to your sensory bins.
- Heart-Shaped Cutouts and Stickers: These heart-shaped cutouts and stickers are ideal for decorating and exploring shapes in your sensory bin. Children will enjoy finding and using them in creative ways.
- Colored Sensory Bin Fillers: Vibrant sensory fillers like colored rice or beads can enhance the sensory experience. They provide a colorful base that children love to explore.
4. DIY Heart-Shaped Sorting Game
Use colored paper to create heart shapes for a sorting game. Kids can sort by color, size, or texture, enhancing their motor skills. I always enjoy watching how focused they get with these simple activities.
You might give these a try:
- Colored Cardstock Paper: Durable and vibrant colored cardstock paper for creating heart shapes that can withstand repeated use by kids.
- Child-Safe Scissors: Safety scissors ideal for children to safely cut paper into heart shapes, enhancing their motor skills.
- Textured Craft Paper: Variety pack of textured paper to add a tactile element to the sorting game, making it more engaging for children.
5. Valentine’s Day Story Time
Choose a few Valentine’s-themed books to read aloud. It’s a cozy way to introduce them to the concept of love and friendship. I’ve seen how these stories captivate little ones’ imaginations.
A few things you might like:
- Valentine’s-Themed Children’s Books: Engaging stories that introduce kids to themes of love and friendship. Perfect for captivating young minds during story time.
- Valentine’s Day Classroom Decorations: Bright and cheerful decorations to create a festive atmosphere in the classroom. Helps set the mood for a cozy reading session.
- Comfortable Story Time Seating Cushions: Soft and colorful cushions for kids to sit on during story time. Enhances comfort and enjoyment.
6. Cookie Decorating Fun
Set up a cookie decorating station with safe, edible decorations. Watching toddlers carefully decorate their cookies is always a highlight for me. Plus, they love eating their creations afterwards!
A few relevant products:
- Edible Cookie Decorating Set: A set of safe, edible decorations including sprinkles, colored sugar, and edible glitter to enhance cookie creations.
- Kid-Friendly Icing Tubes: Easy-to-use icing tubes perfect for little hands to decorate cookies with colorful designs.
- Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutters: A set of heart-shaped cookie cutters to create fun and festive cookie shapes for Valentine’s Day.
7. Personalized Valentine Cards
Help kids make personalized cards for their friends using stamps, stickers, and drawings. It’s a great way for them to express their creativity and learn about sharing. I still have a few cards from my daycare days!
A few helpful options:
- Valentine’s Themed Stamps Set: A set of Valentine’s themed stamps perfect for adding decorative touches to cards, encouraging creativity and fine motor skills.
- Assorted Valentine’s Stickers: A collection of colorful Valentine’s stickers that kids can use to personalize their cards with fun and love.
- Blank Cardstock Sheets: High-quality cardstock sheets ideal for creating sturdy personalized Valentine’s cards.
8. Tissue Paper Heart Art
Create beautiful heart art using tissue paper and glue. Kids can layer colors for a stained-glass effect. This was one of my favorite projects growing up; it always looked so vibrant in the window.
Useful items to consider:
- Colorful Tissue Paper Sheets: Vibrant tissue paper sheets suitable for crafting colorful heart art. Easy to use and perfect for layering colors.
- Child-Safe Craft Glue: Non-toxic glue ideal for kids, ensuring safe and mess-free crafting of tissue paper art.
- Heart-Shaped Stencils: Reusable heart-shaped stencils to help kids easily create consistent and beautiful heart shapes.
9. Bubble Wrap Printed Hearts
Use bubble wrap to make textured heart prints with paint. It’s a fantastic sensory activity and looks amazing. I love seeing the delight on kids’ faces as they pop the bubbles while painting.
Maybe worth checking out:
- Paint Set for Kids: A set of non-toxic paints perfect for young children’s crafting activities. These paints will add vibrant colors to bubble wrap printed hearts.
- Bubble Wrap Roll: Bubble wrap provides a unique texture for creative projects, making it perfect for printing colorful heart designs.
- Craft Paper Sheets: Durable craft paper ideal for withstanding paint applications. It serves as a sturdy base for bubble wrap printed heart designs.
10. Heart-Shaped Fruit Snacks
Serve heart-shaped fruit snacks for a healthy Valentine’s treat. It’s a sweet twist on snack time without the sugar overload. I enjoy preparing these for my nieces and nephews, and they love them!
Try these:
- Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutters: These versatile cookie cutters are perfect for shaping fruits into adorable heart shapes. Great for snacks or party decorations.
- Fruit Slicer Set: A set of fruit slicers to make preparing snacks quick and easy. Ideal for creating uniform slices for your heart-shaped snacks.
- Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat: This non-stick silicone mat is great for keeping your surfaces clean while preparing fruit snacks. Easy to clean and reusable.
11. Valentine’s Day Dress-Up
Set up a dress-up station with red and pink costumes and accessories. Kids adore pretending and playing different roles. In my workshops, dress-up days are always a hit!
A few suggestions:
- Kids Red and Pink Dress-Up Costumes: A variety of red and pink costumes perfect for dress-up play during Valentine’s Day celebrations. Ideal for encouraging imaginative role play.
- Valentine’s Day Themed Headbands: Adorable headbands featuring heart shapes and Valentine’s Day motifs. Great for adding a festive touch to any outfit.
- Red and Pink Pretend Play Accessories: A collection of accessories including heart-shaped wands and jewelry to complement any Valentine’s Day costume.
12. Heart Garland Craft
Create a heart garland using string and colored paper. Kids can decorate their hearts and string them together for a festive decoration. I’ve always found garlands to be a wonderful way to brighten up a space.
Possibly helpful picks:
- Colored Craft Paper: A pack of assorted colored craft paper perfect for creating vibrant heart shapes for the garland.
- Safety Scissors for Kids: Child-friendly safety scissors that allow kids to cut out heart shapes easily and safely.
- Craft String: Durable string that can be used to string the paper hearts together to form a beautiful garland.
13. Valentine’s Day Dance Party
Host a dance party with upbeat tunes and Valentine’s Day themes. Moving to music is a joyful way for kids to express themselves. I love watching their little faces light up as they dance.
Explore these options:
- Children’s Dance Music CD: Upbeat and fun music CD perfect for creating a lively atmosphere for a kids’ Valentine’s Day dance party.
- Colorful Balloon Set: A set of vibrant balloons to decorate your daycare for a festive and cheerful dance party environment.
- Party Streamers and Garland Kit: Decorative streamers and garlands to add a festive touch to your Valentine’s Day dance party atmosphere.
14. Love Bug Craft
Make cute love bugs using pompoms, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners. This craft is charming and easy for toddlers to assemble. It’s always fun to see how each child adds their unique touch.
These products might help:
- Colorful Pom Poms: A variety pack of colorful pom poms perfect for creating fluffy love bugs with bright and engaging colors.
- Craft Googly Eyes: Self-adhesive googly eyes that add character and fun expressions to your love bug creations.
- Assorted Pipe Cleaners: Flexible pipe cleaners in assorted colors for creating antennae and other fun features on your love bugs.
15. Valentine’s Day Photo Booth
Set up a photo booth with Valentine’s props for memorable pictures. It’s a fun way to capture the spirit of the day. I love seeing the creative poses kids come up with.
Give these a look:
- Valentine’s Day Photo Booth Props Kit: A set of themed props including hats, glasses, and mustache sticks to add fun to photos.
- Heart-Shaped Balloons: Red and pink heart-shaped balloons to create a festive backdrop.
- Red and Pink Streamer Decorations: Streamers to enhance the photo booth area and add a colorful touch.
16. Heart-Shaped Crayon Melts
Melt old crayons into heart-shaped molds for a colorful gift. They make wonderful little presents for friends. I enjoy making these with leftover crayons; it’s a great way to recycle.
Possibly handy products:
- Heart-Shaped Silicone Molds: These silicone molds are perfect for making heart-shaped crayon melts. They are heat-resistant and easy to clean.
- Crayon Assortment Pack: A pack of assorted crayons in various colors, ideal for creating vibrant and colorful crayon melts.
- Baking Sheet: A durable baking sheet for safely placing molds in the oven while melting the crayons.
17. Heart Stamps with Potatoes
Use carved potato halves as stamps for heart-shaped art. It’s a simple yet satisfying activity for little ones. My grandma taught me this trick, and it’s been a favorite ever since.
Products that could assist:
- Washable Craft Paints Set: A set of vibrant, kid-friendly paints that are easy to clean up. Ideal for use with potato stamps to create colorful heart-shaped art.
- Potato Peeler and Carving Tool: A handy tool set for safely carving and shaping potatoes for stamps. Includes a peeler and a small carving knife or tool.
- Kids’ Art Paper Pad: Quality art paper pad suitable for various painting and stamping activities. Provides a smooth surface for potato stamp creations.
18. Valentine’s Day Puppet Show
Organize a puppet show with a Valentine’s theme. Puppets bring stories to life and captivate young audiences. I’ve seen how a simple puppet show can spark imagination and laughter.
You might like:
- Puppet Theater Set: A portable puppet theater set that can enhance the storytelling experience and captivate young audiences.
- Valentine’s Day Puppets: A set of themed puppets perfect for creating a captivating Valentine’s Day story.
- Valentine’s Day Decoration Kit: A decoration kit to create a festive atmosphere with heart-themed balloons and banners.
19. Heart-Shaped Puzzle Pieces
Create a giant heart puzzle from cardboard for kids to assemble. It’s a fun, collaborative activity that encourages teamwork. I love seeing the excitement as they fit the pieces together.
May just do the trick:
- Large Cardboard Sheets: Sturdy large cardboard sheets perfect for creating a giant heart puzzle. Encourage creativity by letting kids customize the pieces with paint or markers.
- Craft Paints Set: A set of non-toxic craft paints ideal for decorating the heart puzzle pieces. It allows children to personalize their puzzle and enhances the fun.
- Safety Scissors for Kids: Child-safe scissors designed for easy handling, perfect for cutting out puzzle pieces. Ensures a safe crafting experience.
20. Valentine’s Day Sing-Along
Host a sing-along with Valentine’s Day songs and rhymes. Music has a magical way of bringing people together. In my experience, kids love repeating catchy tunes and learning new words.
Consider these options:
- Children’s Valentine’s Day Songbook: A songbook filled with Valentine’s Day-themed songs and rhymes, perfect for engaging kids in a fun sing-along.
- Colorful Heart-Shaped Balloons: These heart-shaped balloons can be used to decorate the room and create a festive atmosphere for the sing-along.
- Portable Kids Karaoke Machine: A kid-friendly karaoke machine with microphone, perfect for leading sing-alongs and encouraging kids to participate.
21. Heart-Shaped Playdough
Provide heart-shaped cutters and red playdough for creative play. This activity is an excellent way for kids to express themselves through shapes. I enjoy watching their concentration as they mold their playdough masterpieces.
Check these products out:
- Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutters: These heart-shaped cookie cutters are perfect for giving playdough creations a lovely Valentine’s Day theme. Easy for kids to use and ideal for various crafting activities.
- Red and Pink Playdough Set: A set of red and pink playdough that’s soft, non-toxic, and easy to mold, perfect for daycare activities focused on Valentine’s Day.
- Playdough Tools for Kids: This set includes rolling pins and other tools to enhance creativity with playdough, providing more ways for children to shape and design.
