Easy Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids
Easy Valentine's Day Craft for Toddlers: Love Notes & Heart Stamps
A simple, fun craft to celebrate Valentine’s Day while boosting language skills!
Hey there! As a not-so-crafty toddler mom myself, I love crafts that’s are simple, stress-free and easy to make. And truthfully, these easy toddler activities always keep my little one engaged and excited. If you’re like me and looking for DIY Valentine’s Day crafts, then these love note heart stamps are for you! I’ve used them with my own kids and in therapy sessions and they have been a toddler approved hit! Give it a try and let me know how it goes! Tag me @speechrise!
💖 What You Need 💖
✅ Construction paper (red, pink, white or color of your choice!)
✅ Toilet paper rolls (to shape into hearts)
✅ Washable paint
✅ Markers or stickers for extra decoration
🎨 How to Do It 🎨
1️⃣ Make Heart Stamps – Bend a toilet paper roll into a heart shape and secure it with tape if needed. I have found it most helpful to give the bottom a real squeeze to get the pointy end of a heart!
2️⃣ Stamp & Decorate – For younger children, dip the heart stamp in paint or for older children, use a paint brush to paint the outside edges of toilet paper roll. Press it onto paper to make Valentine’s “love notes.” Let your toddler decorate with stickers or scribbles. I have found it easiest to pour paint onto a paper plate and dip the paper roll!
3️⃣ Build Language – As you craft, model simple words like "heart," "red," "stamp," "paint," "more," "love," and encourage your child to repeat or point for preferred items while they work on their craft
4️⃣ Give & Share – Encourage your toddler to give a “love note” to a family member or stuffed animal and practice a target phrase like “I love you” or “for you!”, You can also work on naming the special person like a grandparent “ For Gigi”
❤️ Bonus Tip: Add a personal touch by writing your child’s dictated “message” on the note!
As a speech therapist who specializes in helping to get toddlers talking, I want to also share a few strategies you can use if your little one is a late talker or isn’t verbally responding during the craft!
Late Talker Strategies 🗣
Narrate the Activity – Describe each step out loud as you do it in a simplified way: “Dip in paint,” “Stamp on paper,” “Red heart!”, “big pink heart”. Narrating helps children learn new vocabulary in context, obtaining a better understanding of what words mean in real time!
Use Choices to Encourage Words – Offer two options: “Do you want a red or a pink?” Pause and wait for your child to attempt a word, point, or make a sound.. Make sure you SELL the PAUSE! Lean in, raise eyebrows, hold up both items, and model your own choice in the activity!
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