66+ Creative Infant Daycare Valentines Day Crafts

Infant Daycare Valentine’s Day crafts are simple, fun activities designed for babies and toddlers in daycare settings to celebrate the holiday of love. Infant Daycare Valentine’s Day crafts focus on sensory exploration and basic motor skills, using safe and easy materials such as paper, finger paints, and fabric. Some common crafts include heart-shaped handprint or footprint art, soft fabric heart toys, or colorful paper valentines. The goal is to engage infants in a tactile and visually stimulating experience while introducing them to the spirit of the holiday. Infant Daycare Valentine’s Day crafts also help promote bonding between caregivers and infants through shared, creative activities.

DIY Heart-shaped Salt Dough Ornaments

These heart-shaped salt dough ornaments are a perfect Valentine’s gift to remember the baby’s handprint or footprint.

Materials Used:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup water
• Rolling pin
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Steps:

1. Mix the flour, salt, and water to create the dough.
2. Roll out the dough and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes.
3. Make a small hole at the top for hanging.
4. Allow the ornaments to dry and add handprints or other decorations.

Heart-Shaped Footprint Art

This craft uses the infant’s tiny footprints to create a beautiful heart shape. It’s a personal and adorable keepsake for parents.

Materials Used:

• Red, pink, or white washable paint
• Paper (preferably cardstock)
• A shallow tray or plate
• Wet wipes for cleanup

Steps:

1. Pour a small amount of washable paint into a shallow tray.
2. Gently press your infant’s foot into the paint, ensuring the entire foot is covered.
3. Place the foot carefully onto a piece of cardstock paper to form a heart shape.
4. Let the print dry completely before adding details like a ribbon or a message.

Heart Collage

This craft encourages sensory exploration through touch and texture, as the baby creates a heart-shaped collage using various materials.

Materials Used:

• Red, pink, and white construction paper
• Heart-shaped stickers or cutouts
• Glue stick
• Large poster board or sturdy paper

Steps:

1. Cut out large heart shapes from the construction paper.
2. Use heart-shaped stickers or pre-cut hearts from other colored paper to decorate the large heart.
3. Assist the infant in gluing the hearts onto the large heart shape.
4. Allow it to dry before displaying.

DIY Valentine’s Day Sensory Bag

A sensory bag is an excellent activity for infants to explore textures and colors related to Valentine’s Day.

Materials Used:

• Clear ziplock bag
• Red or pink gel (or hair gel)
• Heart-shaped foam shapes, sequins, or glitter
• Duct tape

Steps:

1. Fill a ziplock bag with red or pink gel and seal it tightly.
2. Add heart-shaped foam pieces, sequins, or glitter for extra fun.
3. Tape the bag securely to a table or floor to prevent leaks.
4. Allow the infant to explore by squishing and pressing the bag to move the materials inside.

Heart Shaped Crayon Rubbings

This activity helps infants practice motor skills and learn about shapes while creating a colorful heart design.

Materials Used:

• Heart-shaped stencils or cutouts
• Crayons (broken into small pieces)
• Paper

Steps:

1. Place the heart-shaped stencil on top of the paper.
2. Let the infant rub crayons over the stencil to create colorful heart-shaped designs.
3. Encourage different colors and textures for a layered look.

DIY Paper Plate Love Bugs

These cute little love bugs are easy for babies to make and are perfect for a Valentine’s Day craft activity.

Materials Used:

• Paper plates
• Red and pink markers or paint
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaners
• Glue

Steps:

1. Paint the paper plate red or pink.
2. Once dry, glue on googly eyes.
3. Attach pipe cleaners to create antennae.
4. Encourage the infant to draw hearts or additional features on the plate.

Valentine’s Day Thumbprint Hearts

This craft uses thumbprints to make heart-shaped designs, perfect for capturing those tiny details.

Materials Used:

• Red, pink, and white paint
• Cardstock paper
• Wet wipes

Steps:

1. Dip the infant’s thumb into the paint.
2. Help them gently press their thumb onto a piece of cardstock to create thumbprint hearts.
3. Allow the prints to dry, and add a sweet message or doodle around the prints.

Handprint Flower Bouquets

Create a beautiful bouquet of flowers using your infant’s handprints. It’s a great way to combine Valentine’s Day with springtime vibes.

Materials Used:

• Green construction paper
• Paint (red, pink, yellow)
• Scissors
• Glue

Steps:

1. Paint your infant’s hand with pink or red paint.
2. Help them press their hand onto paper to make a handprint flower.
3. Cut out stems and leaves from green paper.
4. Glue the handprints onto the stems to form a bouquet of flowers.

Red and Pink Play Dough Hearts

A fun sensory craft using play dough to create heart-shaped designs.

Materials Used:

• Red and pink play dough
• Cookie cutters (heart-shaped)
• Rolling pin

Steps:

1. Roll the play dough out with the rolling pin.
2. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out heart shapes.
3. Allow the infant to explore the dough and create their own heart shapes.

Valentine’s Day Glittered Hearts

Adding a touch of glitter to a simple heart shape makes for a fun and sparkly Valentine’s craft.

Materials Used:

• Red, pink, or white construction paper
• Glitter (preferably non-toxic)
• Glue
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Cut heart shapes out of construction paper.
2. Apply glue to the surface of the heart.
3. Sprinkle glitter on the glue-covered area, and let the craft dry.

Love You to the Moon and Back Handprint Art

This sentimental craft captures your infant’s handprint along with a sweet Valentine’s message.

Materials Used:

• Blue and pink paint
• White cardstock
• Paintbrushes
• Marker

Steps:

1. Paint the infant’s hands with pink or red paint.
2. Press their hand onto the cardstock to create a handprint.
3. Write “Love You to the Moon and Back” around the handprint.

Cupcake Liner Hearts

This simple craft uses cupcake liners to create cute heart shapes for Valentine’s Day decorations.

Materials Used:

• Cupcake liners
• Red, pink, and white construction paper
• Glue

Steps:

1. Flatten the cupcake liners and glue them to a piece of paper.
2. Fold the edges of the liners to create a heart shape.
3. Let the craft dry before displaying.

Paper Bag Love Monster

Make a cute “love monster” using a paper bag, ideal for a Valentine’s Day craft with lots of fun and creativity.

Materials Used:

• Paper bags
• Googly eyes
• Heart stickers
• Glue

Steps:

1. Open the paper bag and decorate it with googly eyes and heart stickers.
2. Use a marker to draw a smile and additional monster features.
3. Allow your infant to help with adding hearts to personalize the “monster.”

Valentines Day Collage with Textures

This sensory-rich activity involves creating a collage from various textured materials to explore tactile feelings.

Materials Used:

• Construction paper
• Textured items like fabric, felt, cotton balls, and foam
• Scissors and glue

Steps:

1. Cut the textured items into small pieces.
2. Let the infant feel each texture before gluing them onto construction paper in a heart shape.

Love Bug Handprint Art

A cute and easy way to create Valentine’s crafts using your infant’s handprints to form a “love bug.”

Materials Used:

• Red, pink, or purple paint
• Paper
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaners

Steps:

1. Paint your infant’s hand with a color of your choice and press it onto the paper.
2. Add pipe cleaners for antennae.
3. Glue googly eyes onto the handprint to create the love bug.

Heart Sun Catchers

These beautiful sun catchers are easy to make and bring in a warm Valentine’s glow.

Materials Used:

• Wax paper
• Crayons (shredded)
• Iron
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Shred the crayons and place them on a piece of wax paper in a heart shape.
2. Sandwich the wax paper between two pieces of parchment paper.
3. Use an iron (adults only) to melt the crayon shavings.
4. Once cooled, cut out the heart shape and hang it in a window.

Heart-Shaped Bean Stamps

Simple to set up and clean, this activity uses beans as stamps to create heart-shaped patterns.

Materials Used:

• Dried beans
• Pink, red, or white paint
• Paper

Steps:

1. Dip the dried beans into paint.
2. Press the beans onto the paper in the shape of hearts.
3. Let the paper dry and display the artwork.

Valentine’s Day Button Art

This button art is a fun and interactive way to create heart shapes using colorful buttons.

Materials Used:

• Assorted buttons (preferably in Valentine’s colors)
• Glue
• Paper

Steps:

1. Draw a heart shape on the paper.
2. Let the infant glue buttons inside the heart shape to create a colorful design.

Love Bug Footprint Art

Capture your infant’s footprint in a heart-shaped design to make a cute love bug.

Materials Used:

• Red or pink paint
• Paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes

Steps:

1. Paint the infant’s foot and stamp it on paper.
2. Add pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes to form the love bug.

Paper Heart Garland

A simple and beautiful craft to hang up around the daycare to spread Valentine’s Day cheer.

Materials Used:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue or a stapler
• String or yarn

Steps:

1. Cut hearts out of construction paper.
2. Glue or staple the hearts together to form a garland.
3. Hang the garland in a window or doorway.

Valentine’s Day Stamp Art

Using stamps to create fun patterns makes for an easy Valentine’s Day craft for babies.

Materials Used:

• Heart-shaped stamps
• Red, pink, or white ink
• Paper

Steps:

1. Dip the heart-shaped stamps into the ink.
2. Help the infant stamp the hearts onto the paper to create a pattern.
3. Allow the print to dry.

Puffy Heart Art

This craft uses puffy paint to create textured heart shapes for Valentine’s Day.

Materials Used:

• White glue
• Shaving cream
• Red and pink paint
• Paper

Steps:

1. Mix shaving cream with white glue to create puffy paint.
2. Add red or pink paint to the mixture.
3. Use the puffy paint to form heart shapes on the paper.

Valentine’s Day Fruit Stamps

A fun way to introduce texture and shapes with fruit stamps, creating heart patterns.

Materials Used:

• Apples, strawberries, or other fruits
• Red, pink, or white paint
• Paper

Steps:

1. Cut the fruit in half and dip it into the paint.
2. Stamp the fruit onto the paper to create heart shapes.

Paper Heart Animal Faces

Turn hearts into cute animal faces for a creative and fun Valentine’s craft.

Materials Used:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes

Steps:

1. Cut heart shapes for the face and ears.
2. Attach the heart pieces to form an animal face.
3. Glue on googly eyes and other details.

Heart Window Clings

Make some fun and colorful window clings using simple materials for an interactive Valentine’s Day decoration.

Materials Used:

• Clear contact paper
• Red, pink, or white markers
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Cut hearts out of contact paper.
2. Let the infant draw or color in the hearts with markers.
3. Stick the hearts to windows as decorations.

Love Bug Handprint Bookmark

This activity creates a personalized love bug bookmark using handprints.

Materials Used:

• Cardstock paper
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaners
• Markers

Steps:

1. Have the infant press their hand on the cardstock to create a handprint.
2. Cut out the handprint and glue on googly eyes.
3. Attach pipe cleaners to make antennae.

Heart-Shaped Popsicle Stick Frame

A sweet frame for a Valentine’s Day photo or keepsake made with heart-shaped popsicle sticks.

Materials Used:

• Popsicle sticks
• Red, pink, or white paint
• Glue
• Photo to insert

Steps:

1. Paint popsicle sticks and let them dry.
2. Arrange the sticks into a heart shape and glue them together.
3. Insert a photo in the middle.

Valentine’s Day Handprint Banner

A handprint banner with hearts and handprints for a simple yet memorable Valentine’s craft.

Materials Used:

• Construction paper
• Paint
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Paint the infant’s handprint onto construction paper.
2. Cut the handprints into shapes and glue them to a string to form a banner.

Heartfelt Paper Chains

Craft a paper chain with heart-shaped links to decorate the daycare for Valentine’s Day.

Materials Used:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue

Steps:

1. Cut strips of paper into heart shapes.
2. Create paper chains by linking the hearts together.
3. Display the chain around the room.

Valentine’s Day Balloon Prints

Using balloons to make prints adds a playful and colorful twist to the Valentine’s Day crafts.

Materials Used:

• Balloons
• Red, pink, or white paint
• Paper

Steps:

1. Inflate balloons and dip them in paint.
2. Press the balloon onto the paper to make a print.
3. Repeat to create multiple heart shapes.

The Joy and Bonding Experience of Making Valentine’s Day Crafts with Infants

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love and affection, and there’s no better way to experience this than by creating heartwarming crafts with infants. While young babies may not fully understand the significance of the holiday, they certainly feel the warmth and joy of connecting with loved ones. Engaging in Valentine’s Day crafts with infants not only provides an opportunity for bonding, but it also stimulates their senses and helps create lasting memories.

Here are some reasons why making Valentine’s Day crafts with infants can be such a special experience:

1. Fostering Early Bonding: Crafting together offers a chance to build a deeper connection. Infants thrive on interaction and love feeling close to their caregivers. The act of holding their hands as they “create” with you promotes a sense of security and affection.
2. Sensory Development: Infants are at an age where they are exploring the world through their senses. Crafting allows them to engage with different textures, colors, and materials—helping them develop tactile and visual skills. Whether it’s touching the soft cotton of a heart or seeing vibrant red paper, it’s a fun sensory experience.
3. Creating Lasting Memories: While your infant may not remember the moment in years to come, the craft itself can serve as a treasured keepsake. A handprint card or a footprint heart can be a beautiful memento of their first Valentine’s Day.
4. Encouraging Creativity: Even though infants are too young to make decisions about the craft on their own, the process of seeing and touching the materials can inspire early creativity. As they grow, these early experiences can lay the foundation for a love of art and self-expression.

Safety Tips for Infant Crafts

Crafting with infants can be a fun and educational experience for both parents and babies. However, ensuring safety during these activities is crucial. Babies tend to explore the world with their hands and mouths, making it essential to choose the right materials and supervise their craft activities closely. Below are some important safety tips to help guide you through a safe crafting session with your little one.

1. Use Non-Toxic Materials

• Choose craft supplies specifically labeled as non-toxic to avoid any potential harm if ingested or touched. Look for products that are certified by recognized safety standards (such as ASTM or EN71).
• Opt for child-safe paints, crayons, and adhesives that are free from harmful chemicals like lead, phthalates, and formaldehyde.
• Natural materials like fabric scraps, paper, and organic cotton can be safer alternatives for infant crafts.

2. Monitor All Craft Activities

• Keep a close eye on your baby during the entire crafting session. Infants often put things in their mouths, so it’s essential to ensure that all materials are safe and free from choking hazards.
• Be mindful of the size of any small items like buttons or beads. Avoid materials that could break into small pieces, as they pose a choking risk.
• Make sure to keep craft supplies out of reach when they are not in use to prevent accidental access.

3. Supervision and Cleanliness

• Always supervise your baby when they are engaged in a craft activity. Even if you trust the materials to be safe, infants need guidance to prevent accidents.
• Maintain a clean crafting environment by wiping down surfaces and ensuring no harmful substances are left around after the activity.
• Use washable materials for easy cleanup and ensure that all surfaces are properly sanitized after each crafting session to avoid germs or residue.

4. Choose Age-Appropriate Craft Projects

• Select simple crafts that match your infant’s developmental stage. Activities like finger painting, playdough squishing, or stamping with soft rubber stamps are great choices for young children.
• Avoid complex crafts that require fine motor skills or tools that could be dangerous, such as scissors or glue guns.

FAQ

What are some easy Infant Daycare Valentine’s Day crafts?

For infants, crafts can be simple and sensory-focused. Ideas include handprint or footprint heart prints, creating textured heart-shaped cards with fabric, or decorating with soft stickers. Babies can also engage with safe materials like non-toxic paints, and caregivers can assist in making prints of their hands or feet on paper for keepsakes.

Can infants participate in Valentine’s Day crafts?

Yes, infants can participate in simple Infant Daycare Valentines Day Crafts that are designed to stimulate their senses. Infant Daycare Valentines Day Crafts should be age-appropriate, such as using their hands or feet to create prints or letting them touch safe materials like fabric or soft textured items.

How can I ensure safety during Infant Daycare Valentines Day Crafts?

Safety is key when crafting with infants. Always use non-toxic, baby-safe paints, markers, and adhesives. Keep small objects like beads, glitter, and sharp tools away from infants, and ensure that any craft materials used are large enough to avoid choking hazards.

What are some ways to make Infant Daycare Valentines Day Crafts?

Valentine’s Day crafts for infants can be meaningful by creating personalized keepsakes for parents, such as handprint or footprint art. Caregivers can also write a small note or date the craft to preserve the memory of the infant’s first Valentine’s Day craft.