10 Valentine’s Day Read Alouds with Crafts for Toddlers

Aimee | Apostolic Motherhood

9 Jan, 2022

10 Valentine’s Day Read Alouds with Crafts for Toddlers

I am sure that you’ve heard that children who are read to more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections, and gain a lifelong love of reading. Adding a craft to story time offers even more benefits to children! Crafting helps refine fine motor skills, offers opportunity to make decisions and problem solve, improves self regulation (like patience and flexibility), and can build self esteem. I hope you enjoy this collection of Valentine’s Day read alouds paired with crafts!

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1. Crayon Hearts Suncatchers

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Collect crayon shavings of different colors. To do this, use a crayon or pencil sharpener..
  • Cut some hearts from black construction paper folded in half, then cut out the center of the hearts about half an inch to an inch from the edge. 
  • Get a piece of wax paper and place it on some paper towels. Arrange the hearts on the wax paper.
  • Sprinkle crayon shavings all over the wax paper and construction paper hearts.
  • Cover your crayon shavings and hearts with another piece of wax paper and more paper towels. Set your iron to medium heat with no steam, and carefully run it all over the top layer of paper towels several times until the crayons are melted.

2. Heart Finger Print Tree

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Make a heart stencil by folding one piece of paper in half and tracing/cutting half of a heart.
  • Place your stencil over the other piece of paper and secure it with tape.
  • Using the black marker, draw a tree within the heart shape.
  • Dab finger in ink or paint and stamp all over the heart shape. Remove heart stencil.

3. Heart Art Painting

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Get two paper plates. Squirt paint onto one and glitter glue onto the other.
  • Dip the heart shaped cookie cutter into the paint and then stamp it onto the canvas or paper. Dip it into the glitter glue and repeat. 

4. Coffee Filter Hearts

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Using the construction paper, cut out hearts of various sizes. You can also find free heart templates on the internet to print on the construction paper.
  • Color the coffee filter with markers. You will need to completely fill the coffee filter with color.
  • Spray the coffee filter with water and watch the colors run together. Let dry.
  • Glue the coffee filter behind the cut out heart(s).
  • Optional: Glue another piece of construction paper behind the coffee filter to mount.

5. Valentine’s Hug Craft

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Trace both hands onto construction paper.
  • Cut out hands and punch one hole on each on bottom.
  • Measure the arm span of your child and cut the ribbon in the same lengths.
  • Tie the hands onto the ends of the ribbon.
  • Attach a special note and send to a loved one.

6. Threaded Hearts

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Fold paper plate in half and cut out half of a heart.
  • Paint the plate color of choice. Let dry.
  • Using yarn, lace your hearts by going through and around (yay fine motor skills!)

7. Tissue Paper Heart

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Cut rectangular pieces of tissue paper or construction paper for your mosaic.
  • Fold the paper plate or construction paper in half and cut out half a heart.
  • If your child is too young, put dots of glue on the plate or construction paper for them. You could also run a glue stick over the entire heart.
  • Paste the tissue paper or construction paper onto the heart.
  • Optional: Decorate with glitter or sequins.

8. Pom Pom Wreath

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Trace half a heart shape on a large folded piece of paper. Cut out.
  • Overlay paper heart onto mounting board and trace. Using your exacto knife, cut along your traced heart shape.
  • With a ruler, measure 2 inches in from outer shape. This will be the inside of your heart form, cut out with exacto knife.
  • Put Elmer’s glue into a shallow dish.
  • Have your child dip each pom pom into the glue and place it on the wreath.

9. Valentine Marble Painting

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Draw hearts on construction paper or card stock.
  • Put construction paper/card stock into box or bin. Add squirts of paint and 5-10 marbles.
  • Shake the box!
  • Cut out hearts and mount on paper if desired.

10. Heart Painting with Cars

What You’ll Need

The Process

  • Cut hearts from white paper.
  • Put paint onto paper plates.
  • Roll car through paint and over hearts.