6 simple valentine's day activities for toddlers: fun with what you have on hand

Valentine’s Day is all about love, connection, and, of course, fun activities with our little ones. As moms, it’s easy to feel the pressure to go out and buy fancy materials for themed crafts and activities, but you don’t have to! The beauty of simple Valentine’s Day activities for toddlers is that you can create meaningful, fun moments using things you already have at home.

This year, I decided to keep things simple and creative, using supplies I already had around the house. I want to inspire other moms to embrace the joy of crafting and playing with what they have, without feeling like you need to spend a lot of money.  So, here are five Valentine’s Day crafts for toddlers that you can easily set up  with household items, and trust me, your toddler will love every minute of it.

1. Salt Dough Garland

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/4 cup water
• Red or pink paint (optional)
• String or twine (optional)
  
  

Instructions:

1. Make the Salt Dough: Mix the flour, salt, and water to create a dough. Add a bit more flour if it’s too sticky.
2. Shape the Dough: Roll the dough out and use heart-shaped cookie cutters (or improvise with any shape you have!) to cut out the shapes.
3. Bake the Dough: Place your shapes on a baking sheet and bake at 200°F for about 2 hours or until fully dry.
4. Paint (Optional): Once cooled, paint the shapes with red or pink paint for a festive touch.
5. String Them: If you want to turn them into a garland, just thread them onto a string or twine.
   
   

This activity is not only fun but also a great opportunity to teach your toddler about shapes and textures while getting a little messy with the dough. The final garland is a sweet keepsake to hang up in your home!

2. Mosaic Heart Valentine’s Craft

Materials:

• Construction paper (pink, red, white)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Heart template (optional)
  
  

Instructions:

1. Cut the Paper: Tear or cut the construction paper into small pieces (don’t worry about perfect shapes—let your toddler help with this).

1. Prepare the Heart Template: Draw a large heart on a piece of paper or use a pre-cut template.
2. Create the Mosaic: Help your toddler glue the small pieces of paper onto the heart, creating a mosaic effect.
3. Display: Once the glue is dry, you can proudly hang this colorful creation on the wall!
   
   

This is a wonderful sensory activity that helps with fine motor skills while also fostering creativity. Plus, it’s a keepsake to cherish for years to come!

3. Valentine’s Cloud Dough

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cornstarch
• 1/2 cup baby oil (or any vegetable oil)
• 1/4 cup conditioner (any kind, but a creamy one works best)

Instructions:

1. Dry ingredients: In a large bowl, pour in the cornstarch.
2. Add conditioner to the bowl and mix well until it’s fully incorporated with the cornstarch. This gives it a soft, creamy texture.
3. Add baby oil: Slowly add the baby oil to the mixture, stirring continuously. Depending on how soft or crumbly you want the dough to be, you may need a little more or less. Stir until the dough reaches a moldable, smooth consistency.
4. Adjust consistency: If the dough feels too dry, add a bit more baby oil. If it’s too wet, add a little more cornstarch.
5. Play and enjoy: Once you’ve reached your desired texture, let your toddler explore the cloud dough. It should feel soft, crumbly, and slightly oily to the touch.
   
   

Valentine’s Cloud Dough is an easy and fun sensory activity that helps your toddler with tactile exploration, and it’s perfect for easy Valentine’s play!

4. Valentine’s Sensory Bin

Ingredients:

• Red pasta (dyed with food coloring)
• Pom Poms (red, pink, and white)
• Ripped craft paper (in Valentine’s colors)
• Wooden sensory tools (spoons, cups, tongs)
• Heart pancake/egg maker (optional for sorting the pasta, pom pom, and ripped paper)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Sensory Bin: Dye some pasta red (or any color you like) by placing it in a ziplock bag with food coloring and shaking it.
2. Fill the Bin: Add the dyed pasta, Pom Poms, and ripped craft paper to your sensory bin or table.
3. Add Wooden Tools: Place some wooden sensory tools (like small cups and spoons) in the bin for scooping, sorting, and transferring.
4. Create a Sorting Station: If you have a heart pancake/egg maker, use it to create sorting stations where your toddler can organize the items by color or shape.
5. Let the Fun Begin: Your toddler will love the tactile experience of sorting the pasta, pom pom balls, and paper, or even just pretending with the pasta like it’s tea time!
   
   

This sensory bin offers a rich experience where your toddler can explore textures, colors, and basic sorting skills. Plus, it keeps them entertained for ages, making it perfect for toddler Valentine’s activities.

5. Heart Hopscotch

Materials:

• Red, pink, and white craft paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Trace out hearts on paper: You can draw the hearts freehand or use something that has a heart shape to draw the heart on the sheets of paper. There should be a total of 10 numbers.
2. Arrange the hearts: Tape them in a hopscotch formation on the floor (or use a simple line of hearts to make it easier for younger toddlers).
3. Draw the numbers: Use the black marker to write numbers or just let your toddler hop freely between the hearts.
4. Hop away: Show your toddler how to hop on one or two feet (depending on their ability) from heart to heart.
5. Use larger pom-pom balls to toss at the numbered hearts, making it a fun game that helps with number recognition and hand-eye coordination.
   
   

Hopscotch is not only a fantastic way to get your toddler moving, but it also encourages coordination, balance, and counting in a fun way, making it one of the most engaging fun toddler activities for Valentine’s Day.

6. Potato Heart Stamps

Materials:

• Large potatoes
• Knife (for adult use only)
• Red, pink, and white paint
• Paintbrushes or shallow trays for paint
• Paper, fabric, or cards for stamping

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Potato Stamps
• Cut a potato in half.
• Using a knife, carve a heart shape into the flat side of the potato.
• Trim around the edges to create a raised heart shape for stamping.
2. Add Paint
• Pour red, pink, and white paint into shallow trays.
• Dip the potato heart stamp into the paint or use a brush to apply an even layer.
3. Stamp Away!
• Press the potato stamp onto paper, fabric, or cards to create heart shapes.
• Experiment with layering colors, mixing paints, or adding glitter for extra fun.
4. Get Creative
• Use your stamped hearts to make Valentine’s Day cards, wrapping paper, or art projects.
• Let kids add details with markers or stickers to personalize their creations
  
  

Hopscotch is not only a fantastic way to get your toddler moving, but it also encourages coordination, balance, and counting in a fun way, making it one of the most engaging fun toddler activities for Valentine’s Day.

Final Thoughts

Moms, you don’t need to run out and buy a ton of supplies to create memorable, Valentine’s Day-themed activities for your toddler. With just a few simple materials you likely already have at home, you can make sweet, meaningful crafts and sensory experiences that both you and your child will cherish.

Take a moment to slow down and really enjoy these activities with your toddler. Take photos and videos to capture these precious moments—you’ll want to look back on them in years to come. The most important thing is the time spent together, and these DIY Valentine’s Day crafts for toddlers are perfect for creating lasting memories without the need for elaborate, expensive supplies.

So, gather up what you have around the house and get crafting! Your toddler will love it, and you’ll both be building memories and connections that will last far beyond Valentine’s Day. ❤️

What You Need:

• Craft materials you may already own (craft paper, scissors, glue, food coloring, paint brushes)
• Everyday supplies (baby oil, conditioner, pasta, potatoes, knife etc.)
• A little bit of time, love, and creativity!

Happy crafting, moms!