When it comes to kids' homemade valentines, I think it's important to consider the process as much as the finished product. Especially with younger children. Yes, you and they want the finished product to be a valentine that they'll be proud to give to Grandma or their friends. But, keep the process kid-friendly. To me this means interesting and appropriate for your child's age and skill level.
Note: As you can see from the photo of Maia as a preschooler, this post is republished from the original homemade valentines post.
By their nature (and that of many holiday crafts) Valentine cards are usually more about the finished product than the process. Which is fine, of course. We do plenty of holiday crafts in our house. And there are so many fun Valentine's ideas out there.
But being a process over product devotee when it comes to children's art, I'm always trying to think of ways to make our holiday projects more about the process than the product. Or at least as much about the process as the product. Because there's no denying that we all think the finished card is important when we're giving it to friends and family.
So when it came to Valentine cards this year I tried to think of a way to make them fun and interesting for Maia to make, as well as age appropriate (for a 4 year old) and open ended. She's made a few different kinds so far since she's not an assembly line kind of gal; her interest and attention span last long enough to make between 1 and 4 of each.
Maia's favorites so far involve using her hole punch, which is such an awesome kid tool!
I cut out a stack of hearts from thick watercolor paper (card stock would work as well) and she's been punching holes around the edges then lacing them with ribbon and red embroidery floss. Some were painted with watercolors first and some were not.
Her finished valentines are not so polished perhaps, but they are ones that she had a lot of fun making and that she is proud to be able to give to her friends and grandmas.
10 More Kids' Homemade Valentines Ideas:
- Glitter Rock Valentines
- Watercolor Painted Valentines with the Toddler Art Group
- Last Minute Valentines :: A Melted Crayon Heart Craft
- Pretzel Hearts :: Stretching the Valentine Theme
- Valentine Butterflies
- Painted Coffee Filter Hearts
- Punch and Paste Easy Heart Valentines
- Valentine Suncatchers
- Cranberry Oatmeal Heart Cookies
- Heart Doily Printed T-Shirt
Do your kids like to make homemade valentines? What do you do to make it as much about the process as the product?
