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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- For toddlers, pick crafts with no small parts: dot markers, tissue paper and torn paper hearts.
- For a classroom, choose crafts that use one or two supplies and can be prepped in a batch.
- Handprint Valentines make the best keepsakes for parents and grandparents.
- Big kids ages 6 and up can handle weaving, yarn wrapping and beads.
- Most of these use red, pink and white paper, glue and washable paint.
In this post29 sections
- How to pick a Valentines craft for your kids
- Easy Valentines crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
- 1. Dot marker heart
- 2. Cotton swab painted heart
- 3. Tissue paper heart suncatcher
- 4. Torn paper heart collage
- 5. Toilet roll heart stamp
- 6. Coffee filter hearts
- Handprint and footprint Valentines
- 7. Handprint heart card
- 8. Footprint love bug
- 9. Fingerprint heart tree
- 10. Handprint flower bouquet card
- Classroom friendly Valentines crafts for kids
- 11. Paper bag Valentine mailbox
- 12. Heart paper chain
- 13. Craft stick love bugs
- 14. Heart headband crown
- 15. Paper heart animals
- Valentines crafts kids can give to parents and grandparents
- 16. Salt dough thumbprint heart
- 17. Fill-in heart love card
- 18. Painted heart rock
- Valentines crafts for big kids (ages 6 and up)
- 19. Woven paper heart basket
- 20. Yarn wrapped cardboard heart
- 21. Beaded pipe cleaner heart
- Bonus: how to run a Valentines craft station for a class
- FAQ
How to pick a Valentines craft for your kids
Start with age and setting. A craft that is fun for one 4 year old at home can be a lot to run with 20 kids at a classroom party.
| If you need | Try | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Something for a 2 year old | Dot marker heart, tissue paper heart suncatcher | 5 minutes |
| A keepsake | Handprint heart card, footprint love bug | 5 minutes |
| A classroom party craft | Paper bag mailbox, heart headband, heart paper chain | 10 to 20 minutes for a batch |
| A gift for grandparents | Salt dough heart, painted heart rock | 15 minutes plus drying |
| Something for ages 6 and up | Woven paper heart basket, yarn heart | 10 minutes |
Easy Valentines crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
These Valentines crafts for kids ages 2 to 5 use big pieces, washable supplies and simple steps. Prep the shapes ahead and let your child do the sticking, dotting and painting.
1Dot marker heart
Draw a big heart on cardstock and let your toddler fill it with dot markers. They are easy to grip and very low mess, so it is a good first craft.
Ages: 18 months to 4.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: dot markers in pink, red and purple, cardstock, a marker to draw the heart.
- Safety: stay close with the caps, which are small enough to choke on.
Chunky and easy to grip. Washable ones clean off skin with soap.
2Cotton swab painted heart
Give your child a few cotton swabs and a plate of paint, and let them dab dots inside a heart outline. It is slower than dot markers, which is good practice for a careful pincer grip.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cotton swabs, washable paint on a paper plate, cardstock.
- Safety: toss the swabs after use and keep them away from ears and mouths.
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
3Tissue paper heart suncatcher
Cut a heart out of the middle of a paper plate and cover the hole with clear contact paper, sticky side up. Your child presses on tissue paper squares, then you seal it with a second sheet and tape it to a window.
Ages: 2 to 6.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper plate, clear contact paper, tissue paper squares, tape.
- Safety: you do the cutting; the plate edges and scissors are adult jobs.
Sticky side up, it lets toddlers stick tissue paper with no glue.
4Torn paper heart collage
Draw a heart on cardstock and have your child tear red, pink and white paper into pieces and glue them inside. Tearing is great hand work for little fingers.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: red, pink and white paper, a glue stick, cardstock.
- Safety: glue sticks are the low-risk choice for toddlers.
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
5Toilet roll heart stamp
Pinch a cardboard tube into a heart shape and tape it so it holds. Dip it in paint and stamp hearts all over paper, then use it as wrapping paper or a card.
Ages: 2 to 6.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: an empty toilet paper tube, tape, washable paint, paper plate, paper.
- Safety: stay close while paint is out.
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
6Coffee filter hearts
Cut coffee filters into hearts, have your child color them with washable markers, then spray them lightly with water. The colors spread into a tie-dye look as they dry.
Ages: 3 to 6.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: round coffee filters, washable markers, a spray bottle, paper towels.
- Safety: you cut the hearts and handle the spray bottle with younger kids.
Thin paper that soaks up marker color for a tie-dye effect.
Handprint and footprint Valentines
Handprint Valentines crafts for kids double as keepsakes. Paint the palm or sole with a foam brush, press, and lift straight up. Label the back with your child's name and the date.
7Handprint heart card
Paint both palms red and press them so the thumbs touch and the fingers angle in to make a heart. Fold the cardstock into a card and add a message inside.
Ages: 1 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: red washable paint, foam brush, folded cardstock, wipes.
- Safety: wash hands right away, since toddlers will lick painted hands.
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
8Footprint love bug
Paint the sole of one foot red and press it on cardstock with the toes at the top. Once dry, add black dots, legs and antennae to turn it into a ladybug love bug.
Ages: 6 months to 4.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: red and black washable paint, foam brush, cardstock, black marker.
- Safety: paint the foot while your child is seated so they do not slip.
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
9Fingerprint heart tree
Paint a simple brown tree trunk and branches, then let your child cover the branches with pink and red fingerprints. A few fingerprint hearts falling below finish it off.
Ages: 2 to 6.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: brown, pink and red washable paint, paper, wipes.
- Safety: stay at the table while paint is out.
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
10Handprint flower bouquet card
Press three handprints in different colors as tulip flowers and paint green stems below. Glue a real ribbon bow where the stems meet.
Ages: 18 months to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: washable paint, foam brush, cardstock, ribbon, glue.
- Safety: you tie and glue the bow; ribbon is a strangling risk for babies if left lying around.
Paint a palm evenly in one or two strokes for a clean print.
Classroom friendly Valentines crafts for kids
For a classroom party, choose crafts with one or two supplies, prep them in a batch, and skip candy so allergies are not a worry. These five work for a group of 15 to 25 kids.
11Paper bag Valentine mailbox
Each child decorates a white paper lunch bag with paper hearts, stickers and crayons, then writes their name on it. The bags hold the Valentines they get at the party.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes for a class (precut hearts).
Mess: low.
Supplies: white paper lunch bags, precut paper hearts, heart stickers, crayons, glue sticks.
- Safety: use glue sticks and stickers, not hot glue.
Cheap, sturdy and easy to decorate for every child in the class.
12Heart paper chain
Cut strips of red, pink and white paper. Kids loop and glue or staple them into a chain, and two strips pinched together at one end make a heart link. Join every child's chain for one long class garland.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes to cut strips.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper strips, glue sticks or a stapler (adult only), tape.
- Safety: an adult runs the stapler.
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
13Craft stick love bugs
Paint a wide craft stick red or pink, glue on two paper heart wings, and add curly pipe cleaner antennae and marker dots.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: wide craft sticks, washable paint, paper hearts, pipe cleaners, glue.
- Safety: for kids under 3, skip stick-on googly decorations and pipe cleaner ends; twist ends over so they do not poke.
Wide sticks are easier for small hands to paint and glue.
14Heart headband crown
Cut a strip of cardstock to fit around each child's head. They glue paper hearts along the top, and you staple the ends into a crown.
Ages: 3 to 7.
Prep: 10 minutes for a class.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock strips, precut paper hearts, glue sticks, stapler (adult only).
- Safety: fold the staple ends flat or cover them with tape.
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
15Paper heart animals
Show kids how to turn hearts of different sizes into animals: an upside down heart is an owl body, two small hearts make ears. It is open ended, so fast finishers keep making more.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes to cut hearts.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper hearts in several sizes, glue sticks, markers, white card.
- Safety: kids 5 and up can cut their own hearts with kids scissors.
Blunt tips for preschoolers who are learning to cut.
Valentines crafts kids can give to parents and grandparents
These take a little more time but make keepsakes that last. Start them a week before Valentine's Day to allow for drying.
16Salt dough thumbprint heart
Cut a heart from salt dough, press your child's thumb in the middle, and poke a ribbon hole. Once dry, paint the edge red. Our salt dough ornaments guide has the dough mix and drying times.
Ages: 1 to 6.
Prep: 15 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: salt dough, heart cookie cutter, straw, red paint, ribbon.
- Safety: salt dough is not food; keep it away from toddlers who mouth things and from dogs.
Clean edges for dough hearts in a few sizes.
17Fill-in heart love card
Cut a big heart from red paper and fold it into a card. Inside, your child draws their family or writes a few words, and you write down what they say they love about the person getting it.
Ages: 3 to 7.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: red cardstock, crayons, a pencil.
- Safety: none beyond normal crayon use.
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
18Painted heart rock
Wash a smooth, flat rock and let it dry. Your child paints a heart on it, and you seal it once dry. It makes a paperweight for a desk at work.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: smooth flat rocks, acrylic craft paint, brushes, sealer (adult only).
- Safety: use rocks larger than a child's fist, and an adult applies the sealer.
Bright colors that stick to rocks. Look for the AP seal.
Valentines crafts for big kids (ages 6 and up)
Older kids want something that looks grown-up when it is done. These use more steps and small parts, so keep them away from younger siblings.
19Woven paper heart basket
Fold two strips of red and white paper and weave them into a Danish heart basket with a handle. It takes a few tries, then kids make them for the whole family.
Ages: 7 to 12.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: red and white paper, scissors, pencil, glue stick.
- Safety: for younger kids, precut the strips.
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
20Yarn wrapped cardboard heart
Cut a heart from cardboard and wrap it in yarn around and around until it is covered. Tuck the end under and add a yarn loop to hang it.
Ages: 5 to 10.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardboard, scissors (adult for cutting cardboard), pink and red yarn, tape.
- Safety: keep long yarn away from babies and toddlers.
Soft yarn in Valentine colors for wrapping and hanging loops.
21Beaded pipe cleaner heart
Thread pony beads onto a pipe cleaner, bend it into a heart and twist the ends together. Kids can hang them from a backpack or give them as a friendship token.
Ages: 6 and up.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: pipe cleaners, pony beads in red, pink and white.
- Safety: pony beads are a choking hazard; keep them away from kids under 3.
Large holes make threading easy for kids 6 and up.
Bonus: how to run a Valentines craft station for a class
If you are the room parent, pick one craft and prep it at home. Precut every piece, count out one bag of supplies per child, and bring wipes and a trash bag.
Set up two tables: one for the craft and one for drying. Kids finish in about 10 to 15 minutes, and the drying table keeps wet paint off the Valentine mailboxes.
Valentines craft supply list
-
Red, pink and white cardstock
Typically $8 to $15
The base for most Valentine crafts. Cardstock holds up to glue and paint better than printer paper.
Check price on Amazon for Red, pink and white cardstock -
Washable kids paint
Typically $10 to $20
Washes off hands and most clothes. Look for the AP seal.
Check price on Amazon for Washable kids paint -
Washable dot markers
Typically $10 to $18
The easiest craft supply for toddlers.
Check price on Amazon for Washable dot markers -
Clear contact paper
Typically $8 to $15
For suncatchers with no glue.
Check price on Amazon for Clear contact paper -
Heart stickers
Typically $5 to $10
Quick decorating for classroom mailboxes and cards.
Check price on Amazon for Heart stickers
Need more ideas for the craft drawer? Our easy crafts with things you already have and fine motor activities for toddlers use the same basic supplies. February also brings Lunar New Year; see our Chinese New Year crafts for kids.
For quiet afternoons between holidays, our free 50 Screen-Free Activities pack has activity cards for ages 2 to 6, each with the age, prep time, mess level and supplies.
Frequently asked questions
What are easy Valentines crafts for toddlers?
Dot marker hearts, tissue paper heart suncatchers, torn paper heart collages and handprint heart cards. They use big pieces and washable supplies, with no small parts.
What Valentines crafts work for a classroom party?
Paper bag mailboxes, heart paper chains, heart headband crowns and paper heart animals. Each uses one or two supplies and can be prepped in a batch for 20 or more kids.
What can kids make for parents for Valentine's Day?
A handprint heart card, a footprint love bug, a salt dough thumbprint heart or a painted heart rock. Write the child's name and the date on the back.
What Valentines crafts are good for older kids?
Kids 6 and up enjoy woven paper heart baskets, yarn wrapped cardboard hearts and beaded pipe cleaner hearts, which take more steps and fine hand control.
How far ahead should I prep Valentines crafts?
Paper crafts can be done the week of. Salt dough and painted rocks need a few days to dry, so start them about a week before Valentine's Day.
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