Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies

February 18, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

After Christmas, there was enough undecorated gingerbread cookies leftover for another activity, so I thought my preschoolers could decorate Valentine’s Day gingerbread cookies.

But I wondered if it would be appropriate. I thought to myself: “Anything gingerbread is so popular at Christmas, but is doing activities with these spicy cookies a thing at other times of the year?”

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

An online search revealed the following:

Each year there is a National Gingerbread Day on June 5 and a National Gingerbread Cookie Day on November 21.

A website called Favorite Family Recipes has a lovely post about making a Valentine’s Day Gingerbread House.

Recipes By Diane showcases gingerbread Cupid Cookies.

And The Savvy Age features quick and easy heart-accented gingerbread cookies.

Armed with all this inspiring information, I decided that yes, decorating our saved cookies with a Valentine’s Day theme would be just fine. I headed out to shop for heart-themed decorations and prepared the activity for my class.

Decorated gingerbread Valentine's Day cookies.

The preschoolers relished decorating a Valentine’s Day gingerbread cookie. And your early learners would love it too.

What To Collect

gingerbread cookies (store-bought or homemade)

cookie or cake frosting (store-bought or homemade)

Valentine’s Day sprinkles

heart candies

cinnamon hearts

candy eyes

disposable plates

dull butter knives or tiny spatulas

Decorating The Gingerbread Cookies

For each child participating in the activity, set an undecorated gingerbread cookie on a plate. Add a dollop of icing and candy decorations to another plate.

Heart and sprinkle decorations to decorate a Valentine's Day cookie.

Set up a cookie decorating station for each child with candy decorations, a cookie, and a knife or tiny spatula.

Gingerbread cookie decorating station with Valentine's Day-themed decorations.

Invite your early learners to decorate their cookies by spreading on icing and adding candy eyes and a nose, mouth, eyebrows, jewelry, buttons, etc.

Wrap the cookies up for the children to take home.

Gingerbread cookies decorated with hearts and candy sprinkles.

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Jewelry Sensory Tray

February 15, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

If you have washable heart-themed children’s jewelry pieces lying around or found some in a post-Valentine’s Day sale, they can have a go in a jewelry sensory tray. Add a few complimentary colored loose parts, and your early learners will be eager to explore the tray.

Loose Parts For The Tray

heart bracelets

color block silicone bracelets

rainbow heart rings

wiggly eye rings

rainbow heart erasers

foam flowers and hearts

gem hearts

flower eraser

buttons

This tray has loose parts in a variety of cheery colors, taking it beyond Valentine’s Day.

Making The Jewelry Sensory Tray

Heart-themed jewelry sensory tray that takes tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

Pick a tray large enough for a few children to play in.

Add a layer of rice. I feature glutinous rice. I love it because it is super white.

Spread the heart jewelry and complimentary colored loose parts in the tray. Invite your early learners to explore the tactile center.

This sensory tray idea also works for individual play. Just divide the supplies into a portion for each child and add them to smaller trays.

Heart jewelry sensory tray with cheery colors that take tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments

February 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Valentine's Day containers with loose parts added make drum and shaker musical instruments perfect for sound exploration.

Save those little containers that valentine treats and crafts come in! Empty chocolate boxes, plastic jars, heart-shaped bowls, and small containers make excellent sensory and art supplies. And when used with drumsticks and filled with loose parts, they can also be Valentine’s Day musical instruments.

Valentine’s Day Loose Parts To Collect

Here’s a supply of loose parts that early learners could choose from for music-making:

Loose parts to add to Valentine's Day containers to make shaker and drum musical instruments.

mini rubber balls

coins

erasers

heart necklaces

heart-shaped cookie cutters

red heart gems

pompoms

buttons

X and O game pieces

This compartment tray holds the above items and the ones below:

Loose parts to add to Valentine's Day containers to make shaker and drum musical instruments, and a variety of drumsticks.

pony beads

red and white round gems

large red beads

striped straws

wooden hearts

Making Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments

Collect Valentine’s Day-themed containers and set them out on a table with a tray of loose parts. Encourage little learners to fill containers with one kind of loose part and add lids. Have them use the filled containers as shakers.

A collection of Valentine's Day-themed containers with loose parts and drumsticks for music-making.

A heart-shaped bowl and small tin make excellent drums. Just add drumsticks!

An overturned plastic heart-shaped bowl and small tin make excellent drums.

When covered with a lid and tipped from side to side, this pony bead-filled tin becomes an ocean drum.

A heart-shaped tin with pony beads added makes an ocean drum.

Why not go big? This large chocolate box heart works wonderfully as an ocean drum too. A few beaded necklaces add the sound.

A heart-shaped empty chocolate box with necklaces or loose parts added makes an ocean drum.

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Dinosaur Valentine Craft

February 13, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

It was just a couple of days before Valentine’s Day when one of my preschoolers said “Remember, Mrs. Kaminsky…you promised to make a dinosaur valentine craft for us to do.” And yes, I had!

We were just finishing up a polar dinosaur theme when I had come across super cute dinosaur Valentine’s Day window clings. They served as perfect transition décor from that winter wrapped dinosaur theme to a Valentine’s Day topic. And they provided lots of craft inspiration, which led me to tell my preschoolers we would do a dinosaur valentine craft.

So this is a very last minute dinosaur-themed Valentine’s Day craft project!

Supplies To Collect

dinosaur printable

12-inch x 12-inch cardstock

8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock

pompoms

wiggly eyes

thin felt pen

paper or foam hearts

thin ribbon strip

white glue

glue paddle

glue stick

Making The Dinosaur Valentine

Download one of these two dinosaur templates and print it on 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper in the color of your choice.

Dinosaur template to use for a dinosaur-themed craft.

Dinosaur PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Rawr-y dinosaur template to use for a valentine craft.

Rawr-y Dinosaur PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Fashion a bow from a small strip of thin ribbon.

Cut out the dinosaur, and invite your early learner to use a glue stick to paste it on a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of complementary cardstock.

Then have your little one use white glue to add pompoms to the dinosaur back, wiggly eyes to the head, and a bow to the neck.

Next, have your little learner use the glue stick to add paper or foam hearts to the body, and use a thin felt pen to draw a smile on the head.

Cut out the “I Rawr-y Love You” greeting to add to the craft if desired.

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Scissor Skill Heart Collage

February 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A simple but effective activity to plan is a scissor skill heart collage invitation. Early learners will be able to explore luxurious craft supplies with unique properties and textures and complete a display-worthy project.

Craft Supplies To Collect

Gather craft supplies that can be cut and glued in the color scheme of your choice. I feature traditional Valentine’s Day hues, but any color scheme would work beautifully. Cut the materials a little smaller if desired, but keep them large enough for little ones to trim some more.

Luxurious craft supply tray for heart collage crafts.

Included in this first compartment tray are:

pipe cleaners

crepe paper

tin foil

metallic purple paper

foam strips

heart patterned ribbon strips

thin and thick ribbon strips

lace

paper doily pieces

white and red bead garland

heart garland

scissors

Red, pink, and white craft supply tray for heart collage projects.

This second craft supply tray holds:

pink and white crepe paper

rose petals

foam pieces

Valentine’s envelopes

white yarn

cream lace

paper strips

red, gold and white ribbon

white bead garland

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Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

February 7, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Valentine's Day playdough recipes and loose parts trays. A basic recipe with color variations and a jello playdough recipe is featured.

Playdough is a shoo-in for any Valentine’s Day theme. There are so many heart loose parts available to use, and who doesn’t like the chance to include red and pink colors in their play? In this post, I’ve included a basic playdough recipe and a jello recipe. The basic recipe includes color variations made with neon food colors. All the recipes are easy to use for introducing Valentine’s Day playdough activities to your little learners.

But first, the loose parts!

Valentine’s Day Loose Parts Trays

Here are two playdough trays brimming with loose parts. The tray below includes:

Valentine's Day playdough tray with loose parts and pink and white dough recipes.

rubber heart game pieces

X and O game pieces

toothpick cupcake toppers

wooden, gem, and foam hearts

buttons

heart erasers

natural colored gems

cookie cutters and rolling pin

This second tray includes:

Valentine's Day playdough tray with loose parts and blueberry, white, and lilac dough recipes.

heart bead garland

red and white bead garland

white and red gems

wooden, gem, and eraser hearts

large red beads

buttons

X and O game pieces

lollipop sticks

Basic Playdough Recipe

Valentine's Day playdough tray with loose parts and red, pink and white dough recipes.

My go to basic playdough recipe has the following ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 cups water

3 tablespoons oil

*****

Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix together.

Stir two tablespoons oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Scoop the dough on to a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding in one tablespoon more oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

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Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes

February 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

With so many Valentine’s Day bits and baubles available to purchase or collect, it is easy to gather little pieces for sensory tubes. And Valentine’s Day sensory tubes are fun to put together.

Sensory Tube Loose Parts

Valentine's day loose parts tray with pieces for sensory tubes.

Here’s a few supplies that would work well in the sensory tubes:

X and O game pieces

rainbow and heart erasers

heart and jewel-shaped gems

small buttons

heart garland strips

bead garland strips

rubber hearts

foam hearts

Assembling The Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes

Pick a few things from the loose parts list to drop in wide-mouthed water bottles with lids that secure on tightly. Then add water to each one. Set the tubes out on a table for little learners to investigate.

Valentine's Day sensory tubes with red, pink, and purple loose parts.

Float and sink experimenting works well with these sensory tubes. In the one on the left, X and O game pieces float to the top. Foam hearts float and erasers and gems sink in the middle tube. And in the one on the right, heart-shaped gems sink to the bottom.

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Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

February 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day crafts decked with hearts and pompoms. The crafts make heart-tugging keepsakes.

Here are two, oh so cute woolly Valentine’s Day crafts your little learners will be excited to make, and loved ones will be elated to receive.

Items To Collect

purple, pink, red and white pompoms

white glue and glue paddle

paper, foam or sticker hearts

8 ½ x 11-inch white or cream cardstock paper

12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper

sheep template

glue stick

scissors

hot glue gun

Making The Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

Print the sheep template on to 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock.

Cute sheep template for farm or holiday crafts.

Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Set the template on a table and invite your early learners to add sticker, paper, or foam hearts to the sheep’s body. Then invite them to glue pompoms to the head. Your little charges will love the chance to use soft and showy pompoms in art.

Cute woolly sheep craft for Valentine's Day. Free printable included.

Print this version to include the header “I Woolly Think You’re Special.”

Cute woolly sheep template for a Valentine's Day craft.

Woolly Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Or cut the sheep out and have your little learners decorate one. Afterward, mount the sheep on to complementary pieces of 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper using a glue gun. Add a “woolly” Valentine’s Day saying of choice.

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day craft.

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Painting With Chocolate

February 8, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

You read it correctly: this blog post is about painting with chocolate. It’s easy, it’s fun, and your workspace will smell divine. The activities featured have a process art focus. A few embellishments will make the art display-worthy or ready to give away.

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

Materials To Collect

hot chocolate powder

cocoa powder

chocolate sprinkles

bowls and spoons

sturdy white paper

waterproof felt pen

ice cubes

tray for ice cubes

paintbrush

container of water

doily heart

decorative 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock

ribbon

plastic (or real) rose

small plastic pouch

chocolates

Activity One: Painting With Chocolate And Ice Cubes

Freeze different sizes of ice cubes.

Cut a piece of sturdy paper into a large heart shape. Optional: Write the words “You and Me + Chocolate” on the heart with a waterproof felt pen.

Scoop hot chocolate powder and cocoa into bowls. Add spoons.

Set out a tray of slightly melted, very wet ice cubes along with the paper heart and bowls of chocolate ingredients.

Invitation to paint with ice cubes, cocoa, chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles. An all-ages art and science activity.

Start the activity off by saying that the powders are “mystery paints.” Ask your child to guess what the paints might be. Smelling the powders will give the answer away pretty quickly.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate powder and cocoa on the heart-shaped paper. (Chocolate sprinkles can be added later.)

Painting activity using ice cubes to swish around cocoa, hot chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

Cocoa and hot chocolate added to a heart shape. Ice cubes can be used to swish the powders around.

Ask your child to swish the powders around the heart with ice cubes, which will make spreadable chocolaty paint.

Offer a paper towel to dab on wet spots if desired. The pattern on the paper towel will add texture to the heart painting.

Heart painting made by swishing ice cubes through cocoa and hot chocolate powder.

Optional: Near the end, your child can add chocolate sprinkles to the heart. This will lead to a discovery that they make it harder to move the ice cubes around.

Activity Two: Brush Painting With Chocolate

Painting with cocoa and hot chocolate powder. The powders are moved around with a paintbrush dipped in water.

Brush painting is a less messy option if there isn’t much time for cleanup.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate and cocoa on a paper heart.

Offer a container of water and paintbrush. Encourage your child to add water to the dry ingredients and paint the heart.

A paper towel can be used to soak up excess liquid.

Gorgeous chocolate heart paintings made with water and hot chocolate and cocoa. — Swoon-worthy hearts painted by preschoolers.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day Activities

February 2, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese Valentine's Day celebration activities. Art, reading, math, light table and block play. These activities are perfect for a Chinese multicultural theme.

On the weekend of August 25 and 26, 2017, Chinese Valentine’s Day was celebrated at the Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Center, located in downtown Edmonton. This traditional Valentine’s Day celebration dates back to the 1800s in China, and is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, in late August.

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