Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to celebrate love for one another. It’s a great opportunity to let creativity blossom with fun, heart-filled Valentine’s Day crafts for kids. Using household items, glue, coloring pencils, or any other materials, these hands-on activities not only keep little hands busy, but they also encourage kindness, love, and appreciation – ideal for all ages from toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids alike.
As Adriane of Raising Kids With Purpose says, “Creating Valentine’s crafts with your kids is a perfect time to build a strong connection to make your child feel seen and unconditionally loved. When you display the craft you make together as home decor, it becomes a daily reminder of that time spent together, reinforcing their sense of security and belonging.
Remember, it’s okay to let your child take the lead even if it’s not perfect. When kids have the freedom to create without correction, they build confidence, independence, and a deeper sense of pride in their work. You can make Valentine’s crafts a tradition your kids look forward to doing every year!”
No matter if you’re living in a cozy apartment in Chicago, settling into a new house in Colorado Springs, or renting a home in Indianapolis, this Redfin article is here to help you explore a variety of delightful and easy-to-follow craft ideas that will make Valentine’s Day even more memorable for both kids and parents alike.
Heartfelt Valentine’s Day garlands to make as a family
At Fatherhood Journals, we believe that creativity is a powerful way for parents and kids to bond, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make something meaningful together,” says Alex Kerr. “One simple yet special craft idea is a “Love Hands Garland” — trace your child’s hands on colored paper, cut them out, and write things you love about each other on each one. String them together and hang them around your home as a reminder of love and appreciation. To make it even more engaging, turn it into a storytelling activity by sharing memories tied to each note.”
Amy Braun, owner and clinical counselor at Mom Therapy Chicago, also recommends the garland stating, “Here’s a quick and fun idea for a Valentine’s Day craft that could add to home décor. You could make a “Heart Chain Garland” with the kids. Cut out heart shapes in different sizes from colored or patterned construction paper. Let the kids decorate the hearts with stickers, glitter, and drawings. String them together with string or twine. Hang the heart garland over a mantel, doorway, or wall to add a pop of Valentine’s décor.”
Luhvee Books shares how they make Valentine’s Day special for kids with the garland. They write, “This Valentine’s Day, here’s a fun and heartfelt idea to make the day special for your child. You can create a colorful heart garland together, cutting out paper hearts and decorating them with glitter, stickers, and loving messages. String them together to hang on a mantel, doorway, or wall, adding a festive and personal touch to your home.
Another wonderful idea is to gift them a personalized Luhvee Book. Fill its pages with cherished memories, affirmations, and heartfelt messages that show just how much they mean to you. It’s a timeless keepsake they’ll treasure forever, making Valentine’s Day a celebration of love and connection they’ll never forget. Celebrate your daughter this Valentine’s Day with heartfelt quotes that express love, pride, and joy, making her feel truly cherished.”
As Maestramom suggests Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to encourage creativity and bonding with the young ones in your life. Here’s what Maestramom has to say about a fun and easy Valentine’s Day craft project.
“Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share love with the kids in your life through fun, hands-on craft projects. Kids love creating and it doesn’t have to be just paper and crayons. Try pulling out paint to make a popular Valentine’s wooden bead garland that will be so charming you can proudly display it as part of your home décor! And don’t let the idea of paint scare you off – this project is so simple it’s almost completely mess-free and can be completed from start to finish in under an hour.”
Olivia Dreizen Howell CEO and Co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry states that, “Valentine’s Day arts and crafts with kids are all about keeping it simple, fun, and a little bit messy! My boys love making heart-shaped garlands by cutting out construction paper hearts, punching holes in them, and stringing them up around the house—it’s easy, colorful, and looks adorable. To keep them engaged, turn it into a little “craft party” with music, snacks, and maybe even a little friendly competition—who can make the silliest Valentine’s creature? At the end of the day, it’s less about perfection and more about making memories together.
Sweet and simple Valentine’s Day crafts for kids
Crafting together not only sparks joy but also creates personalized decorations that will brighten up your space. Jennifer Weedon Palazzo of MomCave TV reminds us that their are numerous ways to make unique Valentine’s Day crafts. She says, “Remember, Valentine’s Day crafts don’t have to be all pink hearts and doilies. Your child (and you!) can create something that matches your current decor with a message of love attached. One year, we did hand prints of the kids. They wrote “I love you” at the bottom and then we framed them.”
Dr. Donna Risolo adds, “Valentine’s Day is a time of year to help support social and emotional learning by helping little ones reflect on what love is, what they love and appreciation about their family members, and what makes them feel loved. At Essex Preschool, we do a craft activity in which children complete the sentence ‘I feel loved when …’ They then decorate their Valentine to illustrate what makes them feel loved. This activity increases their awareness of their own and other people’s emotional needs.”
Shawn Mosch, Cricut design space instructor, notes another way that kids can personalize crafts: personalized cards. Shawn writes, “Creating coloring cards is a fantastic project to do with kids for Valentine’s Day because it combines creativity with a sense of accomplishment. Kids can personalize each card by adding their own colors and designs, making it a truly unique creation. This project is simple, mess-free, and suitable for all ages, making it a perfect activity for family time or group settings. It also encourages fine motor skills and gives kids the joy of creating something special to share with others.”
Ivana Katz from AdventureHQ also recommends a personalized approach to these crafts. “Turn Valentine’s Day crafts into lasting keepsakes by creating a DIY ‘Love Tree.’ Have kids trace their hands on colored paper, cut them out, and write things they love about family members on each ‘leaf.’ Attach them to branches or twigs in a vase for a beautiful, meaningful centerpiece. To make it more fun, add glitter, stickers, or even small Polaroid pictures. This activity encourages creativity and makes for a heartwarming home display.
Purple Ladybug says for older kids in their tweens and teens you can, “Build-Your-Own Prismic™ Heart Lanterns are 3D puzzles that tweens and teens can transform into cool, sparkly lanterns for Valentine’s Day décor. It’s a fun, hands-on project to do together, and kids will feel proud to display their finished lanterns around the house — parents love them, too! Spending quality time crafting with your tweens creates lasting memories and a special way to show your love.”
Valentine’s Day crafts for lasting memories
Melissa Therrien, founder of Live Each Day, shares a tradition that is memorable and relationship-building. She writes, “The Valentine’s Day holiday is a special opportunity to show some extra love and attention to your kids. When my kids were young, I started a tradition in early February on each day leading up to Valentine’s Day. I write loving personal messages to each child on colorful foam hearts and place the hearts around the doorframes of their bedrooms.
Each day when they wake up, they get a new message from me about one of the things I love and admire about them. When Valentine’s Day arrives, your child will have multiple messages from you around their bedroom door, reminding them of their uniqueness, special character traits, and just how loved they are. My kids have appreciated this simple, sentimental gesture far more than I expected – they keep these loving messages long after the holiday passes.”
Jeana Shandraw from Handmade in CA writes how to use past treasures to create and remember time spent with one another. Jeana notes, “Valentine’s Day crafts are a heartwarming way to make your new home feel uniquely yours while creating lasting family memories. One creative idea is to craft a vacation memory dish using resin — a perfect way to preserve treasured moments with your children.
Gather small mementos from family vacations, like seashells, sand, or tiny souvenirs, and have everyone decide what to include in the dish. Pour resin over the arranged items in a shallow mold, letting each family member take turns helping with the process. Once cured, this unique piece of decor serves as both a personal keepsake and a reminder of shared adventures, making your home feel even more special!”
