With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I have been taking the opportunity to do lots of heart crafts with Aiden. He is at such a fun age where he loves to paint and create things so holidays provide the perfect inspiration for crafting. I thought I would share our top three heart crafts for toddlers.
Top 3 Heart Crafts for Toddlers:
Canvas Wall Art
This craft was a ton of fun and super easy. It also helps encourage fine motor skills because you have to be careful not to mix the colors or draw over the sponge hearts. Aiden is so proud of it. I think it came out really cute, and I plan to hang it in my room.
Supplies for your Canvas Wall Art:
- Washable paint (we chose two colors — pink and blue — to simplify the design and avoid a muddy mess from lots of mixed colors) https://www.target.com/p/kid-made-modern-6ct-acrylic-paints-2oz/-/A-50300507
- Glitter paint pens or permanent marker
- Sponge (cut into the shape of a heart)
- Paintbrush (we used a sponge brush but any paint brush would work)
- Canvas (we used 11×14)
Instructions for your Canvas Wall Art:
- Start with the sponge hearts. Have your toddler place them in various places along the canvas.
- Wait for the paint to dry a bit, then outline the hearts with glitter paint pens or a permenant marker.
- Have your toddler use one of the paint colors to fill in any white spaces being careful around the hearts. Wait for the paint to dry down a little (it does not have to be completely dry).
- Using the other color fill in any additional white spaces, again being careful around the sponge hearts.
- Let the canvas dry completely.
- Divide the canvas into four and using black or white paint (depending on your canvas colors) have your toddler dip his (or her) hand in the paint and place a hand print in the upper right quadrant of the canvas.
- Next, dip your toddler’s foot in the paint and place two footprints to create a “V” shape in the lower left quadrant of the canvas.
- Use a paint brush to make a “L” in the upper left quadrant and an “E” in the lower right quadrant.
Coffee Cup Heart Craft
Last year I shared this heart print water bottle craft we made. This year, we finger painted a heart on a coffee cup. This was another good craft for fine motor skills as it requires a toddler to stay in the lines as he is painting. Again, this was the easiest thing ever to make, but I know I will get a lot of use out of it. Throw in a bag of coffee and this is a perfect gift for a working mom or mom on the go!
Supplies for your Coffee Cup Heart Craft:
- Travel coffee cup (I found mine in the dollar section at Target)
- Acrylic paint
- Mod Podge (to seal the design)
Instructions for your Coffee Cup Heart Craft:
- Outline a large heart on the travel coffee cup with a permenant marker or glitter paint. I used glitter paint, but if I do this again, I will probably go the permenant marker route.
- Have your toddler fill in the heart with acryllic paint.
- Write “Love” (or whatever you want) under the heart with a permanent marker or glitter paint.
- Let dry overnight. Once everything is completely dry add Mod Podge or other paint sealer over the heart and words to ensure they stay.
Love Monster
One of my favorite kid’s books is Love Monster by Rachel Bright. We read it all the time, not just around Valentine’s Day, but it did inspire this heart craft.
Supplies for your Love Monster Craft:
- Yarn
- Toilet paper roll
- Pipe Cleaners
- Scrapbook paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue (I recommend tacky glue but regular Elmer’s glue works fine)
- Scissors
- Cardboard or Quilting Square
Instructions for your Love Monster Craft:
- Have your toddler wrap the yarn about 100 times around a piece of cardboard or quilting square (but don’t wrap too tightly).
- Cut the yarn and tie a knot around one side of the cardboard.
- Cut the yarn straight across the middle of the opposite side of the knot.
- Have your toddler add some glue to the top of the toilet paper roll and place the yarn on top, pressing in slightly.
- Twist some pipe cleaners to create antanes and glue it on top of the yarn.
- Repeat steps 1-3 only wrap the yarn around the cardboard about 50 times. Have your toddler add some glue to the top of the antanes and arrange the yarn around the antanes.
- Cut out two hearts from the scrapbook paper and help your toddler glue it to the top of the antanes.
- Have your toddler glue some googly eyes to your love monster.
- Read the book with your new monster friend!
We still have time before Valentine’s Day so I am on the hunt for more heart crafts for toddlers. If you have any fun ones you love to do with your little one I would love to hear about them in the comments! I definitely want to try these heart shaped Valentine’s Day pop tarts I spotted on The Mama Notes blog this weekend.
If you liked these heart crafts for toddlers, check out An Easy Personalized Candle Gift That Toddlers Can Make and Easy (and Inexpensive) DIY Holiday Gifts for Mom
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