[Preschool] Cute to Make! A Collection of Valentine’s Craft Ideas
February 14 is Valentine’s Day.
In Japan, there’s a tradition where women give chocolate to someone they like, but recently it’s been shifting toward giving gifts or messages to family and friends as a way to express gratitude.
I think more and more preschools are enjoying the Valentine’s atmosphere as well.
This article introduces Valentine-themed craft ideas for early childhood education.
It’s a collection of ideas you can make with familiar materials like origami paper and recycled items!
Enjoy making Valentine’s crafts together with the children.
Wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Because the items children make are treated as “works,” we use the term “seisaku (制作: production/work)” in the text.
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[Childcare] Cute to make! Valentine’s Craft Ideas (31–40)
Chocolate-covered strawberries made with paint
Here’s a super cute strawberry “chocolate-dipped” craft.
We’ll use paint, but since the paint is handled inside a bag, little ones can enjoy the texture without getting their hands dirty! Place red, pink, and white paint on a strawberry-shaped piece of construction paper and put it into a bag.
From the outside of the bag, enjoy the feel and the way the paint spreads.
Then add “chocolate” toppings with construction paper to finish! In the video, a bear chef made from construction paper is added, but using the children’s face photos would be adorable too!
bracelet
It’s said that children start becoming interested in accessories around the age of two.
So why not try making some by hand? All you need are origami paper and rubber bands.
First, fold an origami heart with a ring attached, and then add a rubber band—that’s it.
This way, you don’t need to worry about sizing, and even if it breaks, you can quickly make another.
Also, if you change the origami heart to a different motif, you can create other accessories too.
A chocolate motif sounds like a fun idea as well.
Heart stamp
These are heart-shaped stamps that are perfect for message cards and letters.
They’re super easy to make using only a toilet paper roll.
Flatten the round roll to form a pointed oval shape.
Then tuck one of the creases inward to create a heart shape and adjust it as needed.
After that, dip it in paint of your choice and stamp it onto paper.
Even small children can make these easily, so give it a try—your creation is sure to turn out adorable!
die-cut stamp
How about a craft using stamps that little kids will love? First, use double-sided tape to stick a heart-shaped piece of construction paper onto a sheet of white paper.
Next, soak a sponge with red paint and dab it all over the heart.
Then, peel off the heart-shaped paper you attached at the beginning—just like masking tape, the area underneath stays unpainted, revealing an adorable heart shape! Masking itself is a technique that’s often used later in art classes at school.
Letting your child experience this sensation now as a form of early learning may have a positive impact on their development.
Handprint Heart
Message cards using handprint crafts that kids love are perfect for Valentine’s Day projects at preschools and daycare centers! They’re easy to make: place a hand on a piece of construction paper folded in half and trace around it with a pencil, then cut it out—leaving only the thumb and index finger areas connected.
When you open it up, the thumbs and index fingers on both sides form a heart shape! Finish by decorating with stickers and adding a message.
Be sure that adults handle any cutting with scissors.
[Childcare] Cute to Make! Valentine’s Craft Idea Collection (41–50)
3D heart
Whether you display it or give it as a gift, a 3D heart craft really stands out.
It may be hard to picture, but you’ll be making a three-dimensional heart out of construction paper.
First, stack several sheets of construction paper and cut them into heart shapes.
Next, fold each heart in half, one by one.
Then bundle the hearts together again and glue them onto a sheet of paper, and you’re done.
It will look as if hearts are popping right out of the page.
What’s more, the neat part is that it appears to pop out from any angle.
Kids are sure to get excited about it.
Chocolate made with colored construction paper
A cute lollipop-style message card you can easily make with colored construction paper.
First, cut the colored paper into a heart shape.
Use crayons or other tools to write your favorite message and draw patterns on it.
Decorating it colorfully with various colors makes it extra cute.
Next, flip it over and attach a stick on the back with clear tape.
Finally, cut a clear bag slightly larger than the heart and slip it over from the top.
Gather the excess at the bottom and secure it with your favorite ribbon or chenille stem to finish!
