Need easy Valentines crafts for preschoolers that don’t require a prep marathon? These simple projects are perfect for a quiet afternoon at home or a classroom celebration. With supplies you likely already have, little ones can create cards, decorations, and keepsakes that actually get used.
Pick one or two to try today—no Pinterest deep dive required.
A Quick Look at These Ideas
???? What you’ll find: 12 low-prep Valentine’s crafts tested with real preschoolers ⏱️ Time needed: Most take 10-20 minutes ✂️ Supplies: Construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons—things you likely have at home ???? Best for: Ages 3-5, both home and classroom use ???? Skill focus: Cutting, gluing, following simple directions ✅ Why these work: No complicated steps, no specialty supplies, and kids can complete them independently or with minimal help
Valentine’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers
Ready to see the full list? These 12 crafts use simple supplies and work for different skill levels and time frames. Pick what fits your day—you don’t need to do them all.
Paper Plate Valentine Craft
This lacing heart works fine motor skills while kids create. Thread yarn through punched holes, and they've got a keepsake that actually teaches coordination. Uses supplies you probably have: paper plates, yarn, and a hole punch.
Kids shave old crayons, you iron them between wax paper, and suddenly your window looks better. The shaving part keeps preschoolers busy while strengthening their hands. You'll need an iron and wax paper, but most homes already have both.
Preschoolers stamp potatoes in yellow paint to make bees, then add googly eyes and marker details. It's messy but fast—one potato makes multiple cards. Kids love the “play with food” aspect, and you get cards they can actually hand out.
Paint your preschooler's hand and arm brown for the tree trunk, then let them fingerprint hearts all around. It's messy, but it makes a keepsake worth keeping. The fingerprinting part involves fine motor control as they decide where each heart goes.
Turn a lunch bag into a puppy holding a heart. Kids cut, glue, and draw features, then use it as a puppet afterward. Takes about 15 minutes with the free template. One craft, two uses—they make it, then play with it.
Print the free template, cut the pieces, and let kids glue them together. Takes about 20 minutes and makes a panda holding hearts. Works for classroom Valentine exchanges or just because your kid loves pandas. Template does the heavy lifting.
Cut out paper hearts, punch holes, and stack them to make a flower that wraps around a lollipop stick. Kids practice scissor skills and hole punching while making cards they can hand out.
Kids paint a hedgehog template and cut out paper hearts to glue on as quills. Takes about 40 minutes with the printable template. Opens like a card with a message inside, or just display it as art. Uses supplies you probably have—paint, paper, and glue.
Kids press thumbs in ink, make heart shapes on cardstock, then glue glass gems on top. Add magnets to the back, and you've got keepsakes for the fridge. Takes about 40 minutes total. Works for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any time you want a homemade gift.
Cut a paper plate in half, add pipe cleaner legs and folded paper hearts for 3D decoration. Kids glue hearts onto the body and make a face with heart antennae. Takes 30 minutes with supplies you probably have—paper plates, pipe cleaners, construction paper, glue.
Kids tear or cut pink and red paper scraps, then glue them into a heart outline to make a mosaic card. Print a template or draw your own heart. Takes 20 minutes with construction paper scraps and a glue stick. Works as a card for parents or grandparents.
Kids trace a heart template with black glue mixed with acrylic paint, let it dry overnight, then color the sections with Sharpies on clear plastic. Cut it out and tape to a window. Takes about 15 minutes of active work plus drying time. Uses recyclable plastic from food containers, white glue, black paint, and markers.
FAQs About Valentine’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers
Do I need to do all 12 crafts?
No. Pick one or two that fit your day and your child’s interests. These crafts work individually—you’re not building toward anything. One good craft session beats twelve started-but-abandoned projects.
What if I don’t have the exact supplies listed?
Use what you have. Most of these crafts work with construction paper, crayons, and glue. If a craft calls for watercolors and you only have markers, use markers. The goal is to make something together, not to match a Pinterest photo.
Are these really appropriate for 3-year-olds?
Yes, with help. Three-year-olds can glue, stamp, and place stickers. They’ll need you to cut and draw outlines. Four and five-year-olds handle more independently. If your child struggles with a step, do it for them—the craft doesn’t have to be 100% their work to count.
You’ve Got What You Need
You just looked at 12 Valentine’s crafts. Pick one. Or pick three if you’re feeling ambitious. Print what you need, gather your supplies, and spend 20 minutes making something together.
Your preschooler won’t remember if you did the hedgehog or the heart tree. They’ll remember that you sat down, made something, and didn’t stress about it.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
Thanks for having me!!