How to Make Valentines With Young Children

Valentine's Day is a time for everyone to express love, so let the little ones in on the fun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Butcher Papers
• Gift Ribbons
• Paper-edger Scissors
• Tissue Paper
• Sequins
• Gift Bags
• Gift Bows
• Glitter
• Glue Sticks
• Paper Doilies
• White Glues
• Wrapping Paper
• Lipstick
• Scissors
• Old Newspapers
• Postage Stamps
• Card Stock
• Children's Scissors
• Construction Paper
• Envelopes
• Markers
• Pencils Or Pens
• Valentine Stickers

1. Cover the work area with newspapers or butcher paper.
2. Cut card stock to the desired size and shape for cards and fold in half.
3. Provide a variety of valentine-making materials including markers, doilies, stickers, glitter, sequins, tissue and construction paper, and scraps of gift wrap.
4. Help your child plan how she'll arrange items on the card.
5. Allow your child to be creative and do it her way. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and doing her own thing is a good self-esteem builder for a child.
6. Provide glue sticks for gluing paper and doilies to the card.
7. Use white glue to add sequins and glitter. See "How to Embellish Your Valentines With Glitter" for suggestions.
8. Help your child write a valentine message on the inside of the card after the glue is completely dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your child with you when you go shopping for supplies. She'll have fun helping select stickers and other items.
• Doilies stick together, so separate them carefully using your thumbnail.
• You can use a glue stick to glue glitter to a card. Just sprinkle glitter on a thick coat of glue, then press it down with a scrap of paper towel.
• Some young children can cut out their own hearts if you fold and mark the pattern on construction paper for them. See "How to Make Cutout Hearts" for tips.
• If your child is too young to write her name, try one of these "signatures": Trace around her hand, or put lipstick on her lips and let her kiss the inside of the card.
• Scissors can be dangerous. Get special kids' scissors for young children, or just do the cutting yourself.