With a week until Valentine’s Day, you may be looking for a crafty way to prepare for this holiday. While you can attempt an elaborate, multi-step art creation, why not create something simple and inexpensive? Whether your children are in the preschool age bracket or are older, making valentines is an age-appropriate activity.
To start all you need is construction paper, scissors, and glue. Let each child choose whether to make a card that is a typical, rectangular shape or something more creative, such as a heart. (Also, your child should choose for whom he is making the card.) Then the fun part of decorating can begin.
Options for decorations can range from simple to more complex. Simple decorations could be coloring with crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Gluing construction paper scraps or pieces of ribbon is another simple option that is slightly messier.
For more detailed cards, there are a multitude of options. If you have a bin of fabric, scraps of colorful fabrics or pieces of lace can be glued onto the card. Glitter glue or glitter and glue (a bit messy) can add a nice amount of shimmer. Random craft items, also can be used, such as pom-poms, feathers, or yarn.
Don’t forget to add a personal message. For younger children, have the child dictate what the card should say and write it for him. For the slightly older crowd, have your child dictate the message, but have her write her own name. Obviously, older kids can write their own messages and names.
Making valentines with your children is not only a fun way to spend an afternoon, it also allows them to share their love.
