Easy and Fun Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

Play and crafting are fantastic ways for children to learn more about the world around them, and it’s also a great chance for you to become a partner in this learning. Now that February's here, it’s a great time to try these four easy and fun Valentine’s Day crafts for kids.

Heart-shaped Crayons

If you have several bits of broken and discarded crayons in your home, you can melt them all down to give them new life as multicolored heart-shaped crayons. Kids will love the fun colors, and many of them enjoy helping to peel the paper off the crayons, too.

Materials

  • Broken crayons
  • Silicone heart-shaped mold or cups

Instructions

  • Peel the paper off the crayons – this is a great chance for kids to help.
  • Have your child fill the mold or cups with the crayons, in whatever color configuration they like.
  • Bake in a 250-275° oven for about 10-13 minutes, until the crayons are melted (do not let your child help with this step and the next).
  • Remove the mold or cups from the oven. Let the crayons cool completely before removing them from the mold.

Handprint Valentines

These valentines make wonderful keepsakes for family and friends, and kids can get involved by personalizing each one with paint or crayons.

Materials

  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Crayons and/or washable child-safe paint

Instructions

  • Have the child place his or her hand on the construction paper.
  • Trace around the hand, and cut out the handprint.
  • Encourage the child to draw or paint on the handprint as they like.
  • Repeat as necessary.

Cardboard Heart Stamp

This heart stamp is a great way to reuse a cardboard roll of paper towel or toilet paper, and it takes no time at all to prepare.

Materials

  • Toilet paper or paper towel cardboard roll (we recommend cutting a paper towel roll down so it’s not too big for your child to hold)
  • Washable child-safe paint
  • Paper plate
  • Construction paper or cardstock

Instructions

  • Flatten the roll, then press one of the creases in the other direction so a heart shape is created.
  • Pour out a small amount of paint onto the paper plate.
  • Dip one end of the roll into the paint, and show the child how to stamp.

Heart Collage

A heart collage is a great craft for children who like to express themselves, and it’s also a good way to use up any scrap pieces of paper you have around the house.

Materials

  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Additional paper, such as construction paper, magazine pages, or newspaper pages

Instructions

  • Have your child tear up pieces of the additional paper – or, if it’s appropriate, your child can cut small pieces with safety scissors (it’s best if the pieces are fairly large, so that attaching them is easier).
  • In the meantime, cut a large heart out of the construction paper or cardstock, and apply glue to one side.
  • Let your child place the pieces of paper all over the glued heart shape.

These four Valentine’s Day crafts are fun and easy for children, and are a wonderful opportunity to help them develop their creativity.