3 Easy Preschool Ideas for Homemade Valentine Gifts

While paper and crayons accompany most homemade Valentine Day gifts from preschool kids, doing something a little out of the ordinary is a great idea for an older preschooler. Why not introduce the concept of 'sewing' to homemade gifts for kids at this age and add the benefits of honing hand and eye coordination?

Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts for Kids: Sew a Scented Heart (estimated time for completion: 90 minutes)

Idea
The idea for these homemade Valentine gifts is simple: older preschoolers sew together two pieces of construction paper, add scented stuffing and embellish the finished creation. Although the needles are blunt, this craft is only appropriate for older children well past the age of putting items into their mouths for exploration.

Supplies
For these homemade Valentine's gifts for kids in preschool, you need one piece of red or pink construction paper (8.5x11), crayons, scissors, a single hole punch, a plastic yarn needle (blunt point, oversized eye), a length of red or pink knitting yarn, a number of cotton balls and also some sweet-smelling potpourri.

Making the Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts
Fold the construction paper in half; draw a big heart on one half of the paper and then cut out two shapes. Punch holes all around the shapes of the hearts, about half an inch from the edges. Thread a yarn needle with a length of knitting yarn.

Let the child draw on the heart shapes with the crayons. Demonstrate how to sew together the heart shape by threading the yarn needle through the pre-punched holes. Leave one side of the heart open. Allow the preschooler to fill the half-sewn heart with cotton balls and dried potpourri. Once the heart is filled, let her/him finish the sewing.

Cut and knot the knitting yarn, so it keeps the heart securely closed. Consider adding a loop at the top for easy hanging by the recipient.

Homemade Gifts for Kids Not Yet Ready to Sew: Wooly Hearts (estimated time for completion: 60 minutes)

Idea
If your preschooler is not yet old enough to manipulate a yarn needle, s/he may still be old enough to manipulate the wool on a sticky surface. For these homemade Valentine's Day gifts, you and the child will make a heart suitable for framing.

Supplies
To make these homemade Valentine's Day gifts you need a sheet of clear contact paper (8.5 x 11), a washable marker (red or pink), bits and pieces of wool (red or pink), dried oats and rice, a white piece of construction paper and a white picture frame from the dollar store.

Making the Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts
Prepare the contact paper ahead of time by drawing a heart on the clear side with the washable marker. Pre-cut the knitting yarn to various lengths and mix the colors. When you and the child are ready to get started, remove the protective sheet from the contact paper's sticky side (the sticky side is the one to which the child applies the wool) and show the child how to begin -- at the pointy end of the pre-drawn heart -- to apply a bit of wool.

Instruct the child to continue on up the pre-drawn lines of the heart; stress that the distances between the yarn strings should be very small. Once the child covers the outline all the way around the heart, let her/him decorate the inside of the heart with more bits and pieces of wool as well as dried oats and rice.

When done, gently press a white piece of construction paper against the sticky contact paper. Wash off the pre-drawn heart from the clear contact paper's non-sticky side. Write the child's initials on the homemade Valentine gifts creations and also the year. Insert the contact paper square into the white frame. You may need to remove the glass front. It is now ready for giving to a parent or the grandparents.

Last Minute Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts for Kids to Give: Hand & Footprint Frame Set(estimated time for completion: 15 minutes)

This is a commercially available hand and footprint frame set from Kohl's. If you find yourself in a time crunch and need ideas for homemade Valentine's gifts for kids you can put together in the shortest time necessary, this will be the best $20 you spend. Simply apply the stamp ink to the child's hand and press it against the plate. Clean the hand and repeat the same process with the foot.

Resource:
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/furnitureandhomedecor/frames/newbaby/PRD~573661/Carters+SilverPlated+My+First+Hand+and+Footprint+Frame+Set.jsp