Preschool Valentine Crafts

Valentine's Day crafts are a fun way to get in the spirit of the holiday and can really help preschoolers have fun. The following is a look at the history of Valentine's Day and some preschool craft ideas:

Why We Celebrate Valentine's Day:

The history behind Valentine's Day is a little confusing, but legend has it that Valentine was a priest during third century Rome. The Emperor at the time, Claudius II, decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married, so he outlawed marriage in order to have a stronger army. So, Valentine, acted outside the law, marrying young couples in secret. His actions were discovered and he was executed. Thus, he gave up his life for love.

Why Make Valentine's Day Crafts:

Crafts help preschoolers get more involved with the holiday, and gives them something to pass the time doing. It also is a productive and effective way to teach kids about Valentine's Day in a way that they will remember.

A few craft ideas:

Valentines Hug: This is a really fun craft for your preschooler, as they will be able to make it, and love the idea behind it. What you do is create the craft, and give it as a gift with a little poem.

What you need:

Construction Paper
Yarn
Glue
Scissors

Help the preschooler trace their hands on construction paper. Then have an adult cut them out. Now, have the preschooler spread their arms wide, and measure from wrist to wrist, and cut a piece of yarn that length. Now take the hands you cut out, and attach one handprint to each end of the yarn.

Give as a gift with the following Valentines day poem:

A Valentine Hug to You:

Wrap these hands around you whenever I'm away so you can have a hug from me anytime of day!

Heart Friends: For this craft you are going to create little critters out of hearts. Hearts are easy for preschoolers to make, and lots of fun to decorate.

What You Need:

Construction Paper
Glue
Pipe cleaner
Wiggle eyes
Markers

Teach your preschooler how to cut a heart out of construction paper, and have them cut out hearts of all different sizes, then create little heart friends out of them. Glue several hearts in a row to make a caterpillar, and draw on antennas and legs. Glue wiggle eyes on a heart, and make legs out of pipe cleaner. Turn a heart upside down, and add some ears to make a mouse face, etc. Give your preschooler the chance to be creative in making their very own little heart friends.

Heart wreath: This is a fun preschool craft, and can be used as a Valentine's Day gift for mom and dad.

What You Need:

Construction Paper
Glue
Scissors

Cut out a ring of construction paper for each preschooler to use. Then, help them cut out hearts in all sorts of sizes. Let them glue them onto the ring to create a heart wreath.