By Jaimi Erickson
Guest Blogger
These five kid-made valentine’s ideas are simple crafts that give children the opportunity to make their own valentines. Making their own valentines builds a child’s confidence and fine motor skill development. It can also be less expensive than buying boxed cards.
These crafts can be made by children preschool-age and up. As you supervise, it counts as quality time together while making gifts to show love to others. Win-win!
Kid-Made Valentine’s Activities
Dressed-Up Heart Cookies
Bake heart-shaped cookies and top them with simple pink or white icing. My kids and I make the dough together. Then, I roll out the dough and they cut out the cookies on their own. When the cookies are cool, the kids use frosting and sprinkles to decorate. Place a couple in a heart-adorned baggie and they become a special gift.
Love-ly Butterflies
Channel some crafty skills with this simple homemade butterfly craft. These butterflies are too cute. The process is simple enough that children in preschool can make these. They are a fun spin on the typical heart-shaped, cut-out valentines. Kids can personalize them for the friends who will receive them.
Hand-Cut Cards Made by the Kids
For younger children, simple projects like these DIY valentines are special because kids can make all of them on their own. Hand-making these enhances a child’s tracing, cutting, and gluing skills. Those are all exercises for encouraging fine motor development. My oldest son made these for his kindergarten class. He felt so satisfied that he made them himself.
Free Printable Cuteness
For a simpler DIY approach, Spruce Crafts shares free printable labels and inserts to make some easy and creative valentine’s goodie bags. My favorites are the popcorn bags and the fish bowl idea. These are so easy to print out and assemble.
Craft Kits as Valentines
Little craft kits provide all the supplies needed to make valentine gifts to give. Oriental Trading craft kits make it easy to inexpensively buy in bulk. The scratch art hearts or valentine heart magnets would be fun for kids of all ages to make. Then, attach a pencil or piece of candy to each one and they can be given out as valentines.
Deciding to Make or Buy Valentines
If you choose to buy valentines this year, don’t stress that they are not homemade. The point is giving to others, whether the gift is store-bought or not. Celebrate love this month. Kid-made valentines can be a special gift to give and receive.
About Jaimi Erickson
Jaimi is a mom of 4, military wife, and writer. She blogs about motherhood, kids activities and homemaking tips at The Stay-at-Home Mom Survival Guide. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.
