13 Valentine’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers
Cultivating an environment where children learn to value relationships is paramount to the development of their mental and emotional health. Encourage preschoolers to celebrate love and friendship with these Valentine’s Day and friendship crafts.
Coffee Filter Flowers
A lovely craft for any occasion, coffee filter flowers are cheap and easy to make. Teacher Tip: For the perfect gift, upgrade these colorful bouquets with a vase and sweet card.
Secret Messages
The element of surprise is at the heart of this adorable craft. Help children write simple messages like I love you or even their own name in white crayon on secret message hearts. Only when the recipients gently brush the hearts with watercolors will the messages show. Magic!
Looking for a way to incorporate the message of kindness into your Valentine’s Day classroom celebration? Download this fun and free “Breakfast in Bed” Hidden Pictures activity from our Kindness Connections enrichment kit! Kindness matters!
Cupid’s Arrow
This Cupid’s arrow craft is all about presentation. Simple materials like colored drinking straws and patterned paper combine to make an impressive valentine. Switch up the colors from the traditional Valentine’s pinks, reds, and whites and the arrows can make an awesome birthday card too.
Valentine’s Mailbox
Children are always excited to give and receive special valentines. These mailboxes make it so much more fun to collect their goodies! Teacher Tip: Pre-cut the cardboard to keep little fingers safe and allow kids to focus on their favorite part: decorating!
Mustache Lollipop Valentine
These mustache lollipops are always good for a giggle! Complete with the silly phrase, “I mustache you to be my valentine,” this craft is great practice with scissor and writing skills. The best part is that children will appear to have grown mustaches as they eat their lollipops!
Handprint Crafts
This thumbprint tree is the perfect gift for a beloved caregiver. The tree trunk features a thoughtful poem that will tug at the heartstrings of any grownup, and the leaves and heart-shaped apples are made with the children’s handprints and tiny thumbprints.
A handprint wreath is a simple and creative way to create a visual representation of preschoolers’ friendship circle. Each little one’s handprint and name are a part of the wreath which surrounds a short poem about friendship.
All you need is some fabric paint and T-shirts for this craft. Handprint friendship T-shirts are fun to create and wear, and they make a great preschool collectible for the kids.
Friendship Bracelets
It never seems like Friendship Bracelets go out of style. Teacher Tip: pre-cut the yarn and have clipboards or chip-clips at the ready to hold one end of the bracelets so little fingers can more easily manipulate the yarn into a braid. Every bracelet will be unique and beautiful, just like the children and their friendships.
Buddy Bookmarks
A fantastic way to promote reading and friendship, Buddy Bookmarks also flex preschoolers’ fine motor skills. Children decorate pieces of cardstock that have been cut into bookmark size sections with paint, markers, stickers, glitter, and any other material they choose. Teacher’s help will be needed to hole-punch the top of the bookmark for its tassel, but otherwise, this is a project kids will tackle independently. The finished product is meant to be gifted to a buddy, a tangible reminder of friendship.
Kindness Rocks
Whether celebrating Valentine’s Day or friendship, Kindness Rocks are fun to make and a sweet surprise to find. Children paint and write nice messages on rocks and then hide them around the classroom, their home, or even community. It’s a creative way to spread more joy into the world.
Popsicle Stick Frames
Kids love photos! Now they can display their favorite shot in a 4x6 handcrafted popsicle stick picture frame. Once constructed, children will paint and decorate the frames with beads, gems, pipe cleaners, and whatever else tickles their fancy.
Hidden Pictures
True, Highlights Hidden Pictures fun isn’t necessarily a craft, but it is a fantastic activity for children who finish their work or creations early. Avoid too much down time and keep preschoolers happily busy with a free Valentine’s Day Hidden Pictures printable.
Building healthy relationships is vital for a child’s self-esteem, as well as their sense of belonging. Fostering healthy relationships starts as early as preschool with events like Valentine’s Day and friendship celebrations helping to lay the foundation.
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About the Author:
Stephanie Jankowski is an educator and author who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she's not teaching or writing, she's spending time with her children, Brady, Ella, and Lyla, and marveling at just how short the years really are.