If it’s possible to be a “post-phile” or “paper product-phile,” that’s me. I love getting mail, and chances are, your children will enjoy making it. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to get out the construction paper, paints, and glitter. Even if you’re not crafty, it’s literally the thought that counts, both for the recipient and your kid. They’re going to love this project. Here’s how to make homemade valentines with your toddler.
Warning: this will create a big mess. We literally still have glitter stuck to our kitchen floor from last year.
Materials
You can add or subtract from this list. It’s just a starting place. I found tons of great holiday-themed stuff at the dollar store, so this endeavor doesn’t need to be expensive. Here’s a shopping list to get you started:
- construction paper in red, pink, and white
- card stock in Valentine’s colors
- envelopes (some will come with folded card stock…If using construction paper, make sure you get big envelopes)
- washable markers
- washable paints and paintbrushes (water colors bleed into fibrous construction paper and they don’t work well on card stock if there’s any sheen—I recommend something more like acrylic)
- Valentine’s Day stickers—these make making cards so easy
- heart or Valentine’s themed stampers and ink pad
- glitter and Elmer’s glue
- scissors
- paper doilies
Creating the Card
If you’re making cards with a small child, you have one of two choices. You can put paper in front of them, let them go crazy, and then just fold it up and mail it. Or you can guide the process a little. It’s up to you. W was two last year when we did this, and I wanted him to have fun most of all. However, I also wanted him to have a final product that looked like a card, and I wanted to teach him about the holiday (such that it is). So I went with a hybrid approach.
Offering Guidance by Prepping Materials
If you want to make valentines and not just any old art project, I recommend only offering the typical Valentine’s color palate. This means preparing the work space so that only certain paper, card stock, and paints are on hand. In other words, hide the off-colors. (My son couldn’t get past wanting green last year and now black’s his favorite color, so….)
Then, cut various-sized hearts out of construction paper and the doilies for easy gluing. Your child can choose which ones she wants to use and where to paste them.
When it came time to use glitter, I drew heart outlines with glue and then I let him do the messy, fun part of shaking it on. (Key to success: make sure you oversee this carefully. The tendency is to dump the whole jar of glitter on the page!)
Our best-looking cards happened when I flattened card stock and let him paint whatever he wanted on it. It had the effect of painting the front and the back. When it dried, I either left it as-is or I added some foam heart stickers to dress it up.
Add a Photo
Last year, my mom took pictures of W blowing kisses and added them to the inside of the card. It’s a guarantee smile from the recipient. It’s easy to do, and you can just print it on regular paper instead of photo stock. Virtually free!
As you can see from this card, we let W paint the background, and we were able to print and paste the greeting on top of it. It’s an easy way to make a card look like a card without inhibiting your kid with the paints. I find it doesn’t work when I try to explain where *not* to draw.
Give Them Out
This is where having envelopes that fit the cards will be useful. Going to the post office, purchasing stamps, and putting them in the mailbox is actually fun for a kid. It’s also a great chance for them to see how things in civic society work. (Sure, you have to stand in line, but our post man always gives W a priority mail sticker that he wears proudly for the rest of the day.) It gives them a frame of reference if they get cards in the mail from relatives.
If you don’t want to mail them, give them to the other kids at preschool or to cousins or friends. I personally find Valentine’s Day to be super cute. I realize it’s basically a Hallmark holiday, but getting and receiving well-wishes from loved ones isn’t such a bad cause. Who knows? In addition to a fun craft project, you might even sow the seeds of thoughtfulness and generosity.
My future child-in-law can thank me!
Q: How did you make homemade valentines with your child?