Valentine's Day Ideas for Kids – Books, Crafts and DIY Gifts

Get ready to spread the love with these fun and meaningful Valentine's Day ideas for kids. We've compiled a bouquet of engaging activities and resources to help you celebrate love and kindness with your little ones. There are heartwarming and humorous Valentine's Day stories to read, easy crafts for gift-giving and decorating, plus ideas for other thoughtful (non-crafty) homemade gifts.

While February 14 is traditionally associated with romantic love, it's the perfect opportunity to teach children about all forms of caring, kindness and appreciation in a way that's both fun and meaningful for them.

By introducing your kids to thoughtful Valentine's Day activities, you can help them understand that love extends to family, friends, neighbours and even those in need within the community.

It's a great way to create lasting memories and strengthen your child's social connections.

Not only do the activities we've included reinforce important values, they're also designed to spark creativity and get your kids using their writing and literacy skills.

Valentine's-themed books

In the lead-up to the day, take some time to read Valentine's Day-themed books with your child.

These stories can help them understand the meaning behind the day and introduce them to the different types of love – whether it's the love between family members, the bonds of friendship or the concept of romantic love.

Reading Valentine's Day books with your child is also a fun and memorable way to celebrate the day together.

Below are some Valentine's-themed books from the Reading Eggs Library. If you don't have a Reading Eggs account, register for a 30-day free trial to gain access.

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  Happy Valentine's Day, Spots and Stripes!

  It's Valentine's Day and Ms Green is busy in her flower shop getting holiday flowers ready for her customers. Spots and Stripes are at home getting ready to celebrate. Will this dog and cat duo resolve their differences and find a way to enjoy Valentine's Day together?

  • Fiction

  • Reading-age: 7

  • Lexile: 360L

  Read the book (account required)

• 

  Pig in Love

  A cute rhyming book that tells the love story of Pig and Piggie.

  • Fiction

  • Reading-age: 7

  • Lexile: 400L

  Read the book (account required)

• 

  Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

  Martina is a beautiful young cockroach who is all alone. Doña Julia has a plan to help her find a husband, but is anyone worthy? This beautifully illustrated tale is retold in Spanish and English.

  • Fiction

  • Reading-age: 8

  • Lexile: 660L

  Read the book (account required)

• 

  Snow-White and Rose-Red

  The classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale of two sisters who befriend a bear in the woods. The story emphasises kindness and the importance of helping others.

  • Fiction

  • Reading-age: 11

  • Lexile: 1070L

  Read the book (account required)

Valentine's Day crafts for kids

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse for arts and crafts! Making heartfelt gifts and decorations for the home is a wonderful way to celebrate love and spread cheer.

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  Valentine's Day Gifts – Craft It!

  This book in the Reading Eggs Library contains instructions for six Valentine's-themed craft projects – perfect for making handmade gifts this Valentine's Day. Sew tiny felt envelopes, decorate clay heart charms or paint a hearts poster.

  • Nonfiction

  • Reading- age: 6

  • Lexile: 510L

  Read the book (account required)

• 

  Felt Flowers

  Materials you’ll need:

  • Printable template (see link below)

  • Coloured felt sheets

  • Pipe cleaners

  • Buttons or beads with holes large enough to thread the pipe cleaners through

  • Cardboard tube (to use as a vase to hold the flowers)

  • Glue

  • Child-friendly scissors

  • Marker pen

  Download the printable instructions and template

  Watch the demonstration video (account required)

• 

  Flower Bunch

  Materials you’ll need:

  • Craft paper (A3 or similar)

  • Wooden craft sticks

  • Cupcake liners in different sizes (small, medium and large) – you’ll need 3 per flower

  • A paper plate

  • Glue

  • Child-friendly scissors

  • Glitter

  Download the printable instructions

  Watch the demonstration video (account required)

Meaningful homemade gifts

Set aside some time before Valentine's Day to create meaningful homemade gifts with your child for friends and relatives.

Making a gift is much more special and personal than buying something from a store.

Help your child brainstorm different ideas for each recipient. Some of our favourite handmade gift ideas are:

• A drawing or painting

• A poem or short story

• A handmade card.

These activities are a great way to practise writing skills and nurture creativity. Check out our articles below for tips and inspiration to get started:

• 5 Tips to Help Your Child Write the Perfect Poem

• Homemade Storybook Ideas

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Your Child Write a Story.

1. DIY something special for their grandparents

Whether they live far away or right under your roof, it's always nice to encourage your child to show their love and appreciation for their grandparents.

Help your child make a card, a photo album or a drawing to gift to their grandparents.

Let your child know how much their effort will mean to them.

2. Valentine's appreciation messages

• Practise expressing appreciation with 'I love you because…' – Encouraging your child to express their love and appreciation for someone is a great exercise, but sometimes it's not so easy to find the right words. A good prompt to begin with is asking your child to complete the sentence 'I love you because' either on paper or in a card. If your child hasn't learned to write yet, get the family around the dinner table for a special Valentine's Day meal and have each person finish the sentence 'I love you because' for each family member.

• Write simple Valentine's Day messages for their classmates or neighbours – Teaching your child to value other people, even those they may not talk to often, is a great lesson in respecting and accepting others. It also helps them maintain positive relationships with the people they see every day.

Valentine's gift ideas for kids

Surprise your kids with a Valentine's gift of their own.

Cut out some hearts using scissors and pink construction paper and leave them for your child to find on Valentine's Day.

You can put some in their lunchbox, by their bedside table or inside their favourite book to remind them of how special they are.

Demonstrating love and appreciation is the best way to encourage it, while making them feel extra loved on Valentine's Day!

Volunteer on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day can be a good time to volunteer in the community with your child.

Some fun ideas that the whole family can get involved in include helping staff at a local animal shelter, reading to the elderly or volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

Volunteering not only shows your child the importance of helping others less fortunate, it can also give them a newfound appreciation for their own lives and what they have.