I’ve started hosting monthly toddler and preschooler craft play dates for our local Mother’s Club. Our latest one was a Valentine Crafts playdate! It was very popular and easy to put together, so I thought I would share it here. I bought larger foam hearts
, and smaller paper hearts
that opened up to glue onto the foam hearts. We already had glue sticks and markers and crayons. I had enough supplies for 12 kids (some made more than one valentine), and spent under $8.
I picked these foam hearts because they had little foam hearts embedded, and I thought punching them out would be a fun activity for the kids – and an easy way to extend how much time it took for them to do the craft. Punching out little hearts got the kids settled in, so they made more thoughtful cards than they would have if I had asked them to start drawing right away.
The small hearts also doubled as as decorations for the white heart cut-outs (also from the craft store, although they would be easy enough to make at home). Johnny drew a face and then used the hearts to make it!
The paper hearts opened up so that kids could draw and write a message. Here is a Valentine Johnny decided to make for himself! It features Yoda and a Jedi.
This activity worked really well for all the kids who came – ranging in age from just under two years old to five.
Have you ever hosted a Valentine-making play date? Do you make valentines with your kids? Drop by my hangout on air at 1pm EST today for more Valentine’s Day fun and learning for kids!
Update: the video for our hangout didn’t come through, so Carolyn kindly helped with a redo (with a somewhat fussy baby!) – here it is, for those who missed the original!
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Wow, you are amazing – 12 kids??? Johnny’s craft looks adorable.
Two of the twelve were mine – and all the moms helped :)
LOVE the Yoda and Jedi valentine!!
I love his Yoda and Jedi drawings <3
My kids would love a craft playdate. If we had a Valentine’s Day party, I’m thinking we would be doing this. Okay, the boys wouldn’t want to, but Princess…… She’d be all over it.
Great idea since we have to make Valentine’s for school. I love that heart shaped cut out gizmo too!
I love why you chose those foam hearts. Where did you find them?
They were at Michael’s – this is the first year I’ve seen them there.
Looks like fun! I love the heart punch outs :)
You have a great project going there. Surely your kids will enjoy it a lot.
I really like the idea of punching out the foam hearts as a warm up! Love the Google+ hang out idea!
I love that Johnny made a Valentine for himself and his use of the small hearts for a smile. So sweet!
Love the cards! How did the hangout go? Thanks for the invite. Sorry I couldn’t make it. It was ladies night out here about that time!
It was great! There should be video that I can embed, but we are having technical issues with that right now. Hopefully it will be fixed soon!
That is such a great idea! I personally would love to sit down and make a bunch of pretty Valentines! It might be fun for a grown-up girls’ night, too!
I agree! I’d enjoy making valentines with a group of friends!
Homemade Valentines are the best! I’ve got out my supplies (after being reminded by your post the other day) and we’re making em’ this week. I also want to mail some to family members, it’s fun to have a reason to be crafty and celebrate.