Use these simple Valentine's Day craft ideas for kids to help pass the time during those chilly days spent indoors. This February, children can play Cupid with a kid-friendly twist; instead of shooting arrows to spread that loving spirit, they can use homemade heart wands to spark their imaginative play. Heart bookmarks made from popsicle sticks are easy for younger children to make, as well as blowing through straws to spread red and pink paint onto hanging hearts. These valentines crafts for kids encourage creativity while filling their hearts with excitement for the big day.
Things you will need for making heart wands:
- Large craft sticks or paint stir sticks
- Craft paint and paintbrushes
- Pipe cleaners
- Patterned paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Steps for Making Magic Heart Wands
- Squeeze out some red or pink paint and have the child paint the stick. Depending on the age/patience level of the child, you can always paint them beforehand to avoid wait time while drying.
- Once the stick is dry, or while they are drying, trace or draw some heart shapes onto the back of the chosen paper and cut them out.
- Have the child apply glue down the middle of the hearts with a glue stick and press them onto the stick. Have them start with the largest heart near the top of the wand and smallest near the bottom. Make sure there is about an inch of space left above the top heart and enough room at the stick's bottom for them to hold onto.
- Once the hearts are glued in place, have the child twist a pipe cleaner tightly around a pencil to get the curly look.
- Twist the bottom of the pipe cleaner around the top of the stick and twist together at the back so that the curly section points straight up.
- Repeat above step for two or three pipe cleaners around the top of the wand.
If your child does not know about Cupid, now is a good time to tell them how an adorable winged-boy spreads love by shooting arrows, much like they can do with their magic heart wands!
Things you will need for making heart bookmarks:
- Popsicle sticks
- Craft paint and paintbrush
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Patterned paper
Steps for Making Heart Bookmarks
- Squeeze out some paint and have the little ones paint the popsicle sticks.
- Once the sticks are dry, or while they are drying, cut some small heart shapes out of the chosen paper patterns.
- Have them spread the glue on the back of the hearts and press them onto the tops of the popsicle sticks.
Things you will need for making straw-painted hanging hearts:
- Cardboard
- Card stock/scrapbook paper
- Glue stick
- Hole puncher
- Pipe cleaner
- Scissors
- Straw
- Pink and red craft paint
Steps for Making Straw-Painted Hanging Hearts
- Trace out the desired size of heart shape onto some cardboard (cereal or diaper boxes are perfect) and cut it out.
- Use the cardboard heart to trace the heart shape onto the chosen paper color.
- Have the child apply glue with the glue stick to the back of the cardboard heart.
- Press the paper heart onto the cardboard one.
- Squeeze small dabs of pink and red paint onto the heart.
- Next, have the child blow through the straw to spread the paint. You may need to cut the straw down so the paint will spread more easily.
- For the final touch, they can drag the straw through the paint to spread it more thoroughly.
- With a hole puncher, make a hole at the top of the heart.
- Thread a pipe cleaner through the hole and twist together for a hanging hook.
- Hang and enjoy!
This Valentine's Day, children can spread the love with their own magic heart wands while discovering the ancient myth of Cupid in a fun and interactive way. Making heart bookmarks and straw-painted hanging hearts are great ways for the younger ones to share in the fun. Enjoy using these easy valentines crafts for kids to pass the time with creativity and imaginative play.
Lara Smith - is a freelance writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English, History and Religious Studies.
