Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

Valentine's Day is a lovely chance to talk about all kinds of love: for family, friends, teachers, pets and neighbours. These crafts are easy, sweet and made to give away. They need paper, glue and a few hearts, and they suit ages 3 to 10.

Valentine's Day for kids

For children, Valentine's Day is about kindness and friendship. It's celebrated on February 14 each year, and in many schools children exchange cards with classmates. Talk with your child about who they'd like to make something for and why.

How to cut a perfect heart

Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw half a heart (like a big curvy "C" shape) against the fold. Cut along the line and open it up. It works every time and is a great cutting skill to practise.

Cards

1. Coloring cards. Our greeting cards fold in half and have space for a message inside. See homemade cards for more.
2. Pop-up heart card. Fold a card in half, cut two small slits on the fold, push the tab inside and glue a heart to it so it pops up when opened.
3. Fingerprint hearts. Press two thumbprints in a V shape to make a heart. Add a stem to make a heart "flower."
4. Lift-the-flap card. Glue a folded heart onto the front with a secret message underneath.

Decorations

1. Heart garland. Cut hearts from colored paper or our Valentine's coloring pages and string them across a window.
2. Heart suncatchers. Fill a heart-shaped frame with pink and red tissue paper on contact paper.
3. Paper plate heart wreath. Cut the middle out of a plate and glue paper hearts all around.
4. Heart mobile. Hang hearts of different sizes from a stick or a coat hanger.

Gifts

1. Coupon book. Staple small pages together with promises such as "One hug," "I'll help with the dishes" or "Story of your choice."
2. Painted rocks. Paint hearts or kind words on smooth stones.
3. Love bug. Make a bug with heart wings and googly eyes. Color some bug pages for inspiration.
4. Salt dough hearts. Cut hearts from salt dough, bake and paint them, and add a handprint or a ribbon.
5. Framed art. Color a heart mandala in pinks and purples and pop it in a frame.

Classroom Valentines

If your child is giving cards to the whole class:

• Make a list of names and practise writing them. Use our name tracing tool for younger children.
• Spread the work over a week: five cards a day.
• Keep it simple: a colored heart and "Happy Valentine's Day from…" is plenty.
• Make sure everyone in the class gets a card.

Learning with hearts

• Counting: count candy hearts into groups and make a tally chart.
• Sorting: sort paper hearts by size or color.
• Patterns: make pink, red, pink, red patterns.
• Writing: write "I love you because…" sentences for family members.
• Symmetry: folding and cutting hearts shows how both halves match.

Ideas by age

Toddlers: sticker hearts, fingerprint hearts and tearing pink tissue paper for suncatchers.

Preschoolers: heart garlands, coloring cards and simple coupon books with pictures.

School age: pop-up cards, salt dough gifts and class Valentines.

Tweens: detailed paper-cut cards, painted rocks with kind messages and handmade gifts for teachers.

Spreading kindness

Valentine's Day is a great time for kindness. Ideas:

• Make a card for a neighbour who lives alone.
• Draw pictures for a care home.
• Leave a kind note in a library book.
• Tell family members three things you love about them.

See how to teach kindness for more.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving class cards to the last minute. Start a week early.
• Making it about romance. For kids, focus on friendship and family.
• Using too much glitter. Glitter glue is less messy.

Frequently asked questions

When is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is on February 14 every year.

What's the easiest Valentine's craft for toddlers?

Fingerprint hearts and sticker cards. They need no cutting and look lovely.

How can my child make cards for the whole class without stress?

Use a simple design, make a few each day and write names ahead of time on a list.

A Valentine's week plan

• Monday: make a list of everyone to make cards for.
• Tuesday: cut hearts and make a heart garland.
• Wednesday: make five class Valentines.
• Thursday: make five more and a coupon book for family.
• Friday: finish cards, then bake heart-shaped cookies.
• Valentine's Day: give cards and do a kindness act for a neighbour.

Valentine messages for friends

• "You're a great friend!"
• "Thanks for playing with me."
• "Have a happy Valentine's Day!"
• "You make me smile."

What's the story of Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is named after St. Valentine. Over time it became a day to share cards and kindness with people we care about.