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February 14th is coming up fast, and that means it’s time to roll out a new list of festive, kid-friendly activities that’ll keep your young one busy (and not binging on holiday chocolates) from now until dinner is served.
Good news: Our roundup of easy Valentine’s Day crafts for kids features moderately ambitious ideas for 10 year olds (like Pinterest-worthy origami wall decor and conversation heart wreaths), engaging crafts for elementary students, and projects so simple (think: scribbling on a tinfoil heart with markers) that even toddlers and preschoolers can do ‘em sans supervision. Pick a project and lovingly watch while your kid handles the rest.
The Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids (That Aren’t Chocolate)
Valentine’s Crafts for Toddlers
1. Rocking Paper Plate Love Bird Craft
I Heart Crafty Things
This paper plate project requires precious few materials (paper plate, colored pencils, feathers, scissors) and promises to entertain toddlers and tweens alike...and our hearts are officially bursting with joy.
2. Footprint Heart Craft
The Best Ideas for Kids
A craft with serious scrapbooking potential, this footprint heart will make your heart melt for years to come...and even if the sentimentality is lost on your little one, the opportunity to get messy definitely won’t be.
3. Tissue Paper Heart Wreath
Happiness is Homemade
With a little school glue and some tissue paper, you and your child can craft a cheerful heart-shaped wreath that’s exceedingly easy to make and lovely to look at, wherever it’s hung.
4. Rainbow Heart Suncatchers
Fireflies and Mudpies
Some more festive window decor to brighten your home—these tissue paper suncatchers boast an eye-catching array of colors and the decoupage project itself is easy to pull off with a toddler or preschool-aged assistant.
5. Valentine’s Tic-tac-toe Snack
Sippy Cup Mom
Creative endeavors can certainly work up an appetite, which is exactly why edible crafts are truly the best. Plus, this one scores extra points for efficiency, since you’ll be entertaining your tot whilst preparing a snack in one fell swoop.
6. Fingerprint Heart Tree
Arty Crafty Kids
Two tiny fingerprints are all it takes to make the multi-colored hearts surrounding this handprint tree. Yep, it doesn’t get more hands-on than this—but the best part is the finished product, which is sure to inspire oohs and awws.
7 Cardboard Roll Heart Stamp
Housing a Forest
That toilet paper roll you just finished can be recycled and repurposed to make a heart-shaped stamp that your child can paint with and while away the hours.
8. Crayon Resist Hearts
The Best Ideas for Kids
Presenting the perfect parent-child craft: You wield the white crayon and make the eye pleasing designs and your toddler brings them to life by slapping the watercolors wherever he pleases. Everybody wins.
9. Tin Foil Heart Project
I Heart Crafty Things
Tin foil, cardboard and markers are the only materials required for this mess-free craft—and even the youngest kids can get in on the fun. No complicated instructions, here, so feel free to hand over the reins and have your kid doodle to his heart’s content.
10. Washi Tape Heart Suncatcher Craft
Kids Craft Room
This blessedly mess-free craft is a breeze to accomplish and even the youngest kids can help make it happen without sacrificing the quality of the finished product. Plus, there’s a free printable and washi tape is just plain fun.
11. Valentine Handprint Card Holder Craft
Kid Friendly Things to Do
Let your little one get his hands dirty with a simple and sweet paper plate craft that requires no fine motor skills whatsoever—just a hand, two thumbs, some washable paint and a grown-up to ensure it ends up in the right place.
12. Heart Sunburst Watercolor Painting
Arty Crafty Kids
OK, your tot might not be able to accomplish anything quite as visually appealing as what’s represented in the photo above. Still, this low-stakes process art project comes with a free printable and relies on watercolors, not messy acrylic paints, so you can print out a whole stack and watch as your toddler’s artistic and aesthetic talent evolves.
13. Valentine Slime
Crafts by Amanda
Toddlers love to get their hands dirty and this DIY slime project presents a perfect opportunity. Obviously, considerable oversight is required; however, the process, which involves little more than dumping a whole bottle of Elmer’s glue and a bunch of sparkles into a bowl (i.e., what your toddler would do if left to her own devices, anyway), is easily accomplished by even the youngest kids and the end result is a sensory plaything that will bring much delight.
Valentine’s Crafts for Preschoolers
14. Valentine Balloon Craft
The Best Ideas for Kids
Tap your kid for a quick photo shoot and pull out the paint for a mixed media work of art that kids of all ages can help create. Bottom line: The crafting process is stress-free and the finished product looks great on display, so let’s call this one a winner.
15. DIY Valentine’s Day Tassel Necklace
Alice & Lois
Why waste your money on the chintzy Valentine’s jewelry on offer at stores when you can sit down with your kid for some quality craft time that yields a keepsake piece of wearable art? This chunky wooden bead necklace is a breeze to string together—fine motor skills get a boost, too—and the end result is a holiday-themed, statement piece that young fashionistas will be excited to sport on Valentine’s Day.
16. Penguin Heart Craft
Arty Crafty Kids
Fine motor and visual reasoning skills get a boost from this easy craft, which involves cutting hearts of various sizes out of cardstock and arranging them to make an adorable penguin. Pro tip: For an extra challenge, show your kid a picture of the finished project and see if they can successfully solve the assembly puzzle solo.
17. 3D Optical Illusion Heart Craft
Pink Stripey Socks
This drawing project is so simple a preschooler can do it with ease and, needless to say, the resulting piece of art really pops. Best of all, you don’t even need to take a trip to the craft store to make the 3D magic happen: All you need is white paper, lined paper, a pencil and a marker.
18. Family Watercolor Heart Banner
Pink Stripey Socks
Parents of preschoolers, this fuss-free watercolor craft is for you: The crafting process is as quick and easy as the clean-up, and your kid will have a blast every step of the way. In other words, it scores a perfect 10.
19. Heart Windsock Craft
I Heart Crafty Things
Little kids will have a field day with this simple windsock craft. (Party streamers and stickers—need we say more?) Best of all, it’s a breeze to make, so you needn’t possess any artistic talent in order to pull it off with a preschooler.
20. Paper Heart Stuffies
Pink Stripey Socks
A simple construction paper craft that can be stuffed with tissue paper or sweets—either way the finished project will make your child puff up with pride.
21. Heart Tissue Paper By Number Craft
Crayon Box Chronicles
Color matching, number recognition and fine motor skills all get a boost from this tissue paper by number craft. And when the mental workout is over, both parent and child walk away with a prize: A joyfully bright and texturally pleasing heart that belongs on display.
22. DIY Valentine’s Day Window Clings
Happiness is Homemade
Show off your holiday spirit for all to see with some pink-and-red window decor that’s so easy to craft, even your kid can do it. These Elmer’s glue window clings are a cinch to make and children of all ages will get a kick out of moving them around to create new designs.
23. Snail Heart
Crafty Morning
In case you missed it, snails are incredibly cute. Do yourself a favor and craft this heart-shaped snail friend with your child—we promise it will make you both smile on Valentine’s Day and beyond.
24. Bee Mine Valentine
From ABCs to ACTs
Will you bee my valentine? (Sorry, we had to.) This probably won’t come as a surprise, but you can make a whole host of creatures from heart-shaped construction paper cut-outs. That said, this bumble bee craft is, er, the bee’s knees.
25. Stuffed Paper Bag Heart Lacing Craft
School Time Snippets
Here, kids can get creative with cheap materials (paper bag, cotton balls, paint and markers) while honing their fine motor skills in the final stage of the process.
26. Mosaic Heart
Crafts by Amanda
Keep your kid busy with a hands-on art project that requires little more than cutting and pasting. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the process, though: The resulting mosaic-style collage is so pretty, it’s guaranteed to win a few hearts.
27. Water Bottle Love Bugs
One Little Project
A recycled water bottle and a few basic craft supplies (think: craft paint, pipe cleaners and googly eyes) are the only materials you need to make these charming love bugs with your child. Bonus: If you score a couple glow sticks, too, you can transform the craft into a nightlight to keep bedtime fears at bay.
28. Doily Heart Valentine Fish
White House Crafts
Preschoolers and younger grade schoolers will have a breeze with this simple craft, which involves transforming a store-bought heart-shaped dolly into an adorable fish with nothing more than some cutting and pasting. Psst: Read a Valentine’s day book together while waiting for the glue to dry—The Pout Pout Fish is an all-season favorite that also works swimmingly here—so your kid is primed to finish each fish off with some sweet and mood-lifting messages for loved ones.
29. Valentine Elephant Craft
Kids Craft Room
These elephant valentines are downright adorable and remarkably easy to pull off, thanks to a very instructive tutorial and a free printable template. Parents will likely need to oversee the assembly of the nifty 3D elephant, but preschoolers can go to town when it comes to adding color and decorative flourish to the craft.
Valentine’s Crafts for Elementary Students
30. Friendship Bracelet Cards
The House That Lars Built
As any parent whose kid begged them for a Rainbow Loom knows (see craft idea #52), friendship bracelets have made a comeback—big time. This year, put those weaving skills to good use by turning them into Valentine's Day gifts. The House That Lars Built has a full tutorial for making this throwback, threaded jewelry, as well as free printable cards to string them on.
31. Pipe Cleaner Heart Rings
One Little Project
Mess-free and as low maintenance as it gets, this kid-friendly craft produces seriously cute Valentine’s Day bling. Plus, it’s a great way to keep tiny hands busy with nothing more than a bag of pipe cleaners.
32. Cork Love Birds
The Craft Train
That’s right, friends: This kid-friendly craft couldn’t happen if not for your grown-up indulgence, so pour yourself a glass of wine and put that cork to good use with an art project that yields adorable results.
33. Candy Heart Frames
Happiness is Homemade
Set your child up with some paint, glue and a bag of candy hearts for a straightforward craft that produces a veritable Valentine’s Day keepsake—just keep in mind that you might want to monitor your kid’s candy consumption, lest the activity end in heartache stomachache.
34. Paper Heart Wreath
One Little Project
If your child can be trusted with either a stapler or a pair of scissors, she can help craft this sweet paper heart wreath, which comes together with nothing more than the aforementioned tools and a few sheets of construction paper (plus some ribbon for hanging).
35. Valentine Ladybug Craft
The Best Ideas for Kids
The only thing cuter than a ladybug craft is one that features your child’s cherubic face front and center. Kids of all ages can help with this cardstock-and-glue stick craft and the end result is sweet enough to post in the mail.
36. Secret Message Valentine Craft
Crafts by Amanda
The novelty of a secret message decoding craft is enough to make any child swoon, and parents will be relieved to hear that this painting project comes together with watercolors, not acrylic.
37. Wriggly Heart Snake Craft
Arty Crafty Kids
Get your wriggly kid to sit still with an innovative Valentine’s Day card craft. The body of this snake—composed of construction paper heart cut-outs and a handful of brads—can move and groove like nobody’s business. And as if that weren’t cool enough, each segment of the snake lifts up to reveal a sweet valentine message.
38. Valentine Gnome Craft
I Heart Crafty Things
Gnomes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Valentine’s Day, but these charming bearded buddies come bearing hearts (and they’ve been trending, too). Oh, and did we mention you can make them with nothing more than a glue stick, a pair of scissors, a stack of cardstock and a kid?
39. DIY Origami Hearts
Alice & Lois
Perhaps you just ran to the store to scoop up some valentines for your kid only to find the inventory is sold out (no judgment, last minute Leslies) or maybe you’re just a fan of homemade projects that don’t require a trip to the craft store and a boatload of special supplies (raises hand). Either way this exceedingly easy, kid-friendly DIY fits the bill—namely because all you need to pull it off is a stack of cardstock and a pair of scissors. Plus, origami is just plain neat, and any kid who likes to make paper fortune tellers can attest to that.
40. String of Hearts
Paging Supermom
An adorable heart garland that’s as simple to make as a standard paper chain (or nearly). Try this one out with a child of any age for a straightforward Valentine’s Day craft that’s easy on the eyes.
41. Love Bug Bookmarks
Kid Friendly Things To Do
These craft stick bookmarks are the bee’s knees in that they come together in the blink of an eye using only basic, affordable supplies and are downright adorable, too. Plus, there’s a chance your kid will be so excited to put their craft to use that they put down their iPad and pick up a book instead.
42. Woven Valentine Heart Basket
The Artisan Life
Precision-cutting is required here, but with a little guidance even little kids can handle the task of weaving the scrapbook paper strips. Still, what really counts is what you put in the basket: File this one under “filled with chocolate”.
43. Paper Plate Pokeball Valentine
Kids Craft Room
If you’ve got a Pokémon fanatic under your roof, why not woo your child with a craft that speaks to said passion whilst storing all their valentines, to boot? More good news: This one also comes together with little more than a couple paper plates and some paint.
44. Felt Heart Necklace
Kids Craft Room
This no-sew felt craft involves nothing but cutting and gluing; it’s also great for scissor skills—though a surplus of felt is recommended for younger kids, since achieving a heart shape will likely involve some trial and error (more of the latter). That said, any kid who can cut and paste will get there in the end and have a charming necklace to show for it.
45. Loom Bracelet Valentine
Over the Big Moon
In case you missed it, loom jewelry is all the rage among little kids these days. If you’re already the proud owner of a rainbow loom kit (and have managed to prevent those tiny bands from being dispersed to every corner of your home), try this one on for size. The end result is an adorable piece of wrist candy, complete with an oh-so punny, printable Valentine’s Day message that would make any kid blush. (In a good way!)
46. Fingerprint Heart Mugs
The Best Ideas for Kids
Assess your elementary school child’s artistic skills and capacity for precision before you hand over the blank canvas—or, in this case, the white ceramic mug—and allow them to dip their digits in paint. That said, any kid invested in an aesthetically pleasing outcome will find a lot of joy in the crafting process here, as well as the treasured keepsake it yields.
Valentine’s Crafts for 10 Year Olds and Up
47. DIY Conversation Heart Rings
Studio DIY
Kids old enough to handle a hot glue gun (and who have decent penmanship) will have a blast with easy craft, which requires only a few materials and produces some pretty cheeky, oversized jewelry that fits the holiday theme.
48. DIY Glitter Barrettes
A Beautiful Mess
Add a little sparkle to your kids' OOTD on Feb. 14th with these DIY barrettes. Your little ones will enjoy using cookie cutters to cut designs out of Sculpey clay and covering them in glitter; we'll let you tackle baking the clay and gluing it onto hair clips.
49. Salt Dough Heart Ornaments
The Best Ideas for Kids
This salt dough project provides plenty of sensory stimulation and hands-on entertainment for the little kid crowd. Once the dough is ready to go, youngsters will have a blast decorating their ornaments with glitter and paint for a finished craft with gifting potential.
50. Valentine’s Fingerprint Canvas
Artsy Fartsy Mama
Capitalize on your child’s love of messy crafts with a paint-on-canvas project that boasts a personal touch. Bonus: This finger painting activity leaves plenty of room for creativity without sacrificing aesthetics. (In other words, it’s a keeper.)
51. Conversation Heart Wreath
Crafts by Amanda
What do you do with two bags of conversation hearts? A) Feed them to your energetic child; B) Squirrel them away for your own consumption; or C) Use them to craft a pastel-colored feast for the eyes that you can hang on your front door. (Spoiler: The correct answer is C, so grab your kid and get started.)
52. Pugs And Kisses Valentine Box
Mod Podge Rocks
Scoop up some craft foam and paint and raid the recycling for a cereal box for a kid-friendly art project that’s sure to excite. Yes, the end result looks impressive, but don’t worry—this valentine box comes with a free pattern so you and your little one don’t have to wing it.
53. Crayon Shaving Hearts
Skip to My Lou
If you haven’t tried a crayon shaving craft with your kid yet, this one is a must. Children will be amazed by the melted masterpieces they can make with this familiar coloring staple...and likely, so will you.
54. Valentine’s Day Pencil Toppers
Artsy Fartsy Mama
This one calls for a Cricut machine—but if you already own this digital cutting tool, you’ve got it made: Simply use the software per the tutorial’s instructions to cut out the glittery cardstock hearts and, once that’s done, bust out some pencils and pipe cleaners so your kid can take over.
55. Valentine’s Day Bird Feeders
Simple Joy
Show some love for the real love birds in your backyard with this incredibly sweet Valentine’s bird feeder craft. Kid participation is possible at every stage and the valentines themselves are oh-so punny.
56. Valentine Puppy Chow
Sarah Halstead
Pretty in pink and perfectly fine to eat (i.e., not actually for puppies): This chocolate-and cake mix-coated puppy chow is sure to win the affection of your brood the next time family movie night rolls around.
57. Framed Button Heart
Carrie Elle
Have your child flex his fine motor skills by using buttons to build this beautiful (and frame-worthy) heart. The process provides plenty of sensory stimulation and the finished product boasts both textural and visual appeal.
58. 3D Origami Heart Craft
How About Orange
A certain degree of dexterity is required here but, as far as origami projects go, this one is particularly kid-friendly. After a little trial-and-error your little one will be able to fold these 3D hearts blindfolded—or while watching Octonauts—and their handiwork will be something to behold.
59. DIY Flower Pen And Terra Cotta Pot Craft
Kid Friendly Things To Do
Your preschooler probably can’t pull off the pot decorating and pen-to-rose transformation without some assistance. Still, the crafting process would be a breeze for a tween, and the finished product makes a fine gift for a teacher, grandparent…or anyone, really. (It’s just so clever and cute, right?)
60. DIY Conversation Heart Soap
A Pumpkin and a Princess
Grab a tween or teen to cook up a DIY in the kitchen that promises a sweetly-scented, and oh-so moisturizing lather in the bathroom. These homemade soaps look good enough to eat and are great for holiday gifting. The process is also very straightforward and a wonderful bonding activity for parents and older kids—provided you’ve scooped up some essential oils, cosmetic powder and a special (but readily available) conversation heart mold before you get started, that is.
