Searching for Valentine’s Day activities for kids? I wanted one go-to list with all my favorite Valentine’s Day ideas for kids, and I couldn’t find what I was looking for. So rather than aimlessly wander around Pinterest, I got to work to put these ideas together. Here are some of the greatest Valentine’s games, crafts, and treats. Use these fun and easy Valentine’s day at home or in the classroom with your toddlers and preschoolers.
RELATED: If you enjoy intentional and simple ideas for kids, check out my 101 preschool activities for hands-on learning through play.
What can kids do on Valentine’s Day?
Think back to 1989. Do you remember what you did for Valentine’s Day? How about Valentine’s Day in 1992?
Do you remember a lavish party with a balloon arch and a new 14k necklace? I will assume (correct me if I am wrong) that you think back and smile at the cut-out hearts, a glitter mess, and at least one of the messages from your candy heart collection. You may even remember a specific Valentine popped out of a sheet with 14, just like it from someone you had eyes on.
What am I getting at here? Valentine’s Day is a fun, no-pressure holiday to show our preschoolers and toddlers we are thinking of them. This simple list of activities for kids keeps things as light as 1989 and special for 2023.
Curious about how to teach Valentine’s Day to kids? Here is an educational article on Valentine’s Day from National Geographic to help get you started!
Gain the confidence and direction to kickstart your morning routine with play.
PDF Startup Guide – This insider’s manual gives you a road map for executing mornings anchored in play, discovery, and learning.
PDF Activity Cards Set One and Two – Breakfast Invitations are play-based, hands-on, and designed with an intentional introduction to learning through play.
What’s inside this Valentine’s Day Activity List:
I aimed to list what I would search for in a Pinterest Pin. I want ideas that are simple to set up for my toddler and preschooler and an activity that creates fun conversations in the home as they work. If I am a room mom helping set up a preschool Valentine’s Day party, I want to search for something quickly that doesn’t require many supplies.
With all this in mind, I broke this Valentine’s Day for kids post into four categories to get you where you need to be in record time.
- Valentine’s Day games
- Sensory play for Valentine’s Day
- Valentine’s Day crafts and cards
- Sweet treats to celebrate Valentine’s with kids
RELATED: What art supplies do I like to use with my children? Here is a list of my favorite art supplies for kids.
Valentine’s Day Games
Over the last few years, I have become pretty great at creating indoor activities for kids. When I put together this list of Valentine’s Day games, I kept fine motor development and gross motor skills in mind.
- Chasing Hearts Challenge – STEAM Powered Family
- Coding Bracelets – Little Bins for Little Hands
- Counting Hearts Sticky Paper – Happy Toddler Playtime
- Heart Match – Days with Grey
- Heart Patterns – Happy Toddler Playtime
- Heart Zap Game – Pint-Sized Treasures
- Love Posters – Busy Toddler
- Race to Fill the Cup Counting Game – Fun Learning for Kids
- Rainbow Hearts Dot Stickers – Happy Toddler Playtime
- Valentine’s Day Sorting – Busy Toddler
- Valentine Scissor Skills – Happy Toddler Playtime
- Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe – Crayons & Cravings
- What Makes Your Heart Happy? – Days with Grey
Sensory play for Valentine’s Day
What is a kid activity list without sensory activities? Children are researchers of their environment, and when we incorporate new sensory activities, we ignite new pathways in the brain. Yep, I geek out over facts like this. Read here why sensory play is important for child development.
Also, I wish I had a quick read before introducing sensory play to my toddler to prevent bean sprouts from growing between my decking. Although a funny memory, I wrote about how to introduce sensory play to kids so you can learn from my experiences.
- Candy Heart Water Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Conversation Heart Squish Bag – Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Find the Hidden Hearts Cloud Dough – Days with Grey
- Flower Sensory Bin – Days with Grey
- Glow in the Dark Playdough – Buggy and Buddy
- Marbled Valentine Playdough – Fireflies and Mudpies
- Science Valentines Skittles – Fun with Mama
- Valentine Slime – The Best Ideas for Kids
- Valentine’s Day Fluffy Slime – Natural Beach Living
- Volcano Science Experiment Natural Beach Living
Valentine’s Day Craft Activities
Valentine’s Day crafts can be linked with painting activities for kids or as simple as gluing googly eyes on a heart. Remember, we aren’t looking to win any awards for perfection. Instead, it is more about the process your child experiences. If you want to paint, I wrote this article on how to paint with kids to help simplify what you need to get started.
- Best Friend Clay Necklaces – Pink Stripy Socks
- Fingerprint Canvas – Artsy Fartsy Mama
- Heart Wands – Red Ted Art
- Heart Wind Socks – Non-Toy Gifts
- Heart Robots – Non-Toy Gifts
- I Love You Painting – Fun with Mama
- Paper Plate Hearts – Non-Toy Gifts
- Rainbow Heart Suncatcher – Fireflies and Mud Pies
- Salt Dough Conversation Hearts – Pint-Sized Treasures
- Valentine’s Day DIY Crayons – For Modern Kids
Valentine’s Day Cards
Okay, I am going to toot my own horn here. Jump to number five, Rainbow Hearts. It is on repeat, and many kids enjoy it! It isn’t as simple as a quick pop-out, but well worth the time invested.
- DIY Heart Stamps – Natural Beach Living
- Jack in the Box Valentine Paper Box – Adventure in a Box
- Lego Valentine’s Day Cards – Red Ted Art
- Pebble Love Bugs – The Craft Train
- Rainbow Hearts – Days with Grey
- Secret Message Cards – Red Ted Art
- Super Easy Valentines for Your Preschool Friends – What Do We Do All Day?
Sweet Treats to Celebrate Valentine’s with Kids
- Conversation Heart Marshmallow Pops – The Soccer Mom
- Gluten-Free Strawberry Cupcakes – The Soccer Mom
- Heart-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats – Pint-Sized Treasures
- Oreo Pops – Happiness is Homemade
- ‘Queen of Hearts’ Homemade Pop-Tarts – The Soccer Mom
- Stained Glass Heart Cookies – The Soccer Mom
- Treat Boxes – Artsy Fartsy Mama
- Walk-up Pancake Party (Peanut Free) – Days with Grey
- Velvety Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies – The Soccer Mom
FAQ
Spending time together is a great way to show children you love them. Have a make-your-own pizza station, create a fort to read Valentine’s Day books, turn the kitchen table into Valentine’s crafting station, cut out hearts and write sweet messages for your kids to wake up to on their bedroom door.
This rainbow Valentine’s heart craft was a huge hit with all three of my preschoolers. Supplies needed are construction paper, gluesticks, and scissors.
I often come to my friend Happily Ever Elephants for book recommendations. Here is her favorite books about love.
