Fun Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids

Teach little ones to show their feelings with hands-on fun

One of the lovely things about children is that they aren't shy about expressing their emotions to the ones they love. Set your children loose on these easy Valentine's Day crafts, and watch as their sentimental feelings come gushing out.

A Bowlful of Love

Even the littlest ones can get in on the fun by using one of their favorite foods - cereal. Take a piece of cardboard (cutting off the sides of a shirt box will work fine), and draw a picture of a large heart. Give your child a bowl full of oat rings or fruity oat rings to glue onto the heart. Depending on the age of the child, you can either allow them to apply the glue using Popsicle sticks, or put the glue on the heart for them. Then, let them have fun sticking the cereal onto the picture. Don't be surprised if they eat a few along the way!

Valentine Mail Call

Let the kids create a special mail box for their expected Valentines. You or your child can cover a large tissue box in white wrapping paper, leaving the top slot open. Provide your child with assorted supplies for decorating, such as: markers, crayons, water colors, glue, glitter, foam shapes, etc. Then watch their imaginations take flight.

Cupid Was Here Hearts and Arrows

With chenille stems, pony beads, feathers, glue, ribbon and paper your child can create a message from Cupid. For hearts: have child string red and pink pony beads on a white chenille stem that has been bent into a V-shape. Once beads are on, bend tops into Valentine shape and twist together in middle. For Cupid's arrows: have child string red and pink beads onto white chenille stem. Make a twist at each end to secure beads. Bend top into triangle for arrow tip. Have child glue feathers onto other end. Finish by directing child to cut paper into hearts or squares, write message on paper, snip or punch hole in corner, and attach with ribbon to heart or arrow.

Read All About It

Let your older child create a ribbon bookmark. You'll need a 14-inch length of 1/2" wide pink ribbon; a floss threader; and beads with large holes. Beads could be the cube variety with letters to spell a message such as I LOVE YOU or BE MY VALENTINE. The child should decide how to divide beads between ends of ribbon, so that there is an 8-inch span of ribbon to drape inside book. Tie a knot on one end of ribbon, and using floss threader, the child will string beads in the desired order. When finished, tie a knot on the other end. Finish by tying knots approximately three inches from each side to secure the beads on the ends.

Blooming Love

As they say, love grows, and this craft will make that point in blooming colors. You'll need a 4-inch terra cotta pot; several green chenille stems; sheets of colorful tissue paper; floral foam; green pony beads; and paper shred. An adult should cut a piece of floral foam to fit the pot. The project begins with cutting 3 - 5 inch tissue paper circles (depending on desired size of flowers). You'll want approximately 12 circles for each flower. The circles can have a wavy or jagged edge - let your child choose. Next, a tiny slit should be snipped in the center of each circle. Bend the tip of one of the stems approximately 1/4 inch down. After that, your child should take one circle at a time, push the stem through the slit, stopping just before the bend on top. Gently crush the paper in an upward direction. Repeat with each circle, crushing each circle around the ones before it. Finally, put a pony bead at the bottom to hold the circles in place, and insert into floral foam in pot. Top with paper shred. Optional step: if desired, the child can decorate the pot with markers, paints, or stickers.

Even Easier Fun

Decorate Cupcakes

You'll need plain, baked cupcakes; cans of white and strawberry frosting; Valentine's Day sprinkles; pink colored sugar; small seasonal candies, such as conversation hearts. Give the kids a frosting spreader and they'll know what to do.

Sweet Messages

Supply older kids with lengths of white or pink tulle; red ribbon; a bag of conversation hearts, and plain cards. Direct children to cut out 8-inch circles from the tulle. Place a handful of hearts in center of circle. Write message on card such as "I'm sweet on you" and place on top of hearts. Tie tulle into a bundle with ribbon.