Kid-Friendly Valentines

A Happy Heart Treat Bag is one of many crafts and activities you can do with your children to make Valentine's Day special.

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On Valentine’s Day, kids can learn about following their hearts and directions with homemade crafts, cards and treats.

At Leaps & Bounds Preschool in Lake in the Hills, the day also offers an opportunity for students to learn about love and kindness, owner Kathleen Daly said.

The students create hearts they take home to decorate with their parents.

On the back of the hearts, students are asked to write down the things they love in their lives, Daly said. Once brought back to school, the hearts are read aloud during circle time.

“We talk about love and respect and kindness, everything that love kind of includes,” Daly said.

And the kids earn hearts for every act of kindness they perform in the class.

The day might be geared toward couples as a time for romance and roses, but families also can celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The simplest of crafts and treats can make the holiday special for children – from a Valentine’s Day-themed breakfast table to an afternoon spent decorating heart cookies.

Kids can wake up to waffles and pancakes shaped as hearts with cookie cutters and a table full of red glitter and scattered paper hearts.

Or for lunch and snacks, heart-shaped sandwiches and cheese offer an added touch to the day, according to Amazingmoms.com.

Complete with how-to videos and instructions, Amazingmoms.com offers numerous craft and party ideas, including games such as a “Stacking Heart Challenge,” where children race to make towers of candy hearts.

With some glue, doilies and stickers, a paper plate can be turned into a fun party favor cone, the site suggests. Staple the edges of the plate into a cone-shape, decorate it and fill it with all sorts of treats for the kids.

Add a ribbon and hang it on your child’s doorknob for a surprise morning treat. Or turn the craft into a classroom activity.

Old CDs can be transformed into Valentines with some glue, candy hearts, construction paper and a permanent marker to write messages such as, “Your love is music to my heart,” according to Amazingmoms.com.

If you’re looking for more crafts to do at home or school, stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby offer aisles full of ideas and projects.

At Michaels stores throughout McHenry County, families can take part in several Valentine’s-Day-related events this month. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, kids can make free Valentine’s Day cards in the store.

And from 2 to 4 p.m. that same day, they can learn to decorate sweet treats.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, a “Valentine’s Treat Bag Make-It Take-It” activity
is scheduled.

And from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, children can take part in a “Heart-shaped Frame Make-It Take-It” activity (when they buy a $1 wooden frame).

A Michaels’ kids program at www.theknackkids.com suggests several Valentine’s Day activities, including a clay heart necklace and a “Happy Heart” treat bag. 

Happy Heart Treat Bag instructions are:
Materials:
Craft bag with handles • Pink, white and black construction paper • “Creatology” wiggle eyes, 35 mm • “Creatology” foam glitter heart stickers• Red glitter glue • Washable markers • Scissors • Pencil • Glue stick
Directions:
Step 1: Print pattern. Trace and cut out heart and hand pieces from pink paper, and feet from black paper.

Step 2: Position heart onto bag. Trace mouth opening. Carefully cut out mouth about one-quarter-inch larger, while making sure to cut top layer of bag only.

Step 3: Glue heart onto bag with mouth aligned.

Step 4: Cut strips from white paper to create arms and legs. Embellish as desired with markers.

Step 5: Accordion fold strips. Glue feet and hands to ends. Glue strips to bag as shown.

Step 6: Glue eyes to bag.

Step 7: Use glitter glue to personalize foam heart stickers with your name. Let dry completely, and peel and stick to bag.