Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Daycares


Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to celebrate friendship, kindness, and love in daycare settings. It’s an opportunity for little ones to engage in creative activities, share sweet moments, and spread joy with their classmates. Whether you run a home daycare like Little Duck Family Child Care or work in a larger centre, these Valentine’s Day ideas will make the day extra special for your little ones! These Valentine’s Day crafts are some of my favourites!

1. DIY Valentine’s Cards

Encourage kids to create their own Valentine’s cards using construction paper, stickers, doilies, and markers. Let them decorate and personalize their cards for friends, family, or teachers. For younger children, provide pre-cut hearts and let them glue and colour their designs.

If funds are tight you could also use some creativity and create these love notes on your kids snacks and make some cookies using what you have on hand.

2. Valentine’s Sensory Bins

Create a themed sensory bin filled with:

• Pink and red rice or dried pasta

• Foam hearts and pom-poms

• Heart-shaped cookie cutters and scoops

• Plastic gems or beads for a fun treasure hunt

This activity promotes fine motor skills and keeps little hands engaged!

3. Heart-Themed Crafts

Get creative with Valentine’s-themed crafts! Some fun ideas include:

• Handprint Heart Art – Dip kids’ hands in paint and form a heart shape on paper.

• Paper Plate Love Bugs – Decorate plates with googly eyes, pipe cleaner antennas, and heart wings.

• Tissue Paper Stained Glass Hearts – Have kids glue colored tissue paper onto wax paper or clear contact paper for a beautiful window decoration.

Try these adorable printable puns as a cute gift!


4. Valentine’s Day Storytime

Clever Publishing has an amazing selection of Valentine’s Day books you will enjoy for years to come. Read books about love, friendship, and kindness. Some great options include:

• “The Day It Rained Hearts” by Felicia Bond

• “Love Monster” by Rachel Bright

• “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney

• “Llama Llama I Love You” by Anna Dewdney

After storytime, discuss ways to show kindness to friends and family.

5. Valentine’s Themed Snacks

Make snack time extra special with these festive treats:

• Heart-shaped sandwiches using cookie cutters

• Yogurt parfaits with strawberries and granola

• Banana and strawberry skewers

• Graham crackers with pink frosting and sprinkles

• Strawberry milk or pink lemonade for a fun drink option

For a fun and easy activity, let kids decorate their own heart-shaped sugar cookies!

6. Friendship Bracelet Station

Set up a bracelet-making station with beads and pipe cleaners or elastic string. Kids can create bracelets to gift to their friends as a sweet and meaningful Valentine’s Day gesture.

7. Valentine’s Day Dance Party

Turn up the music and have a Valentine’s-themed dance party! Play fun songs like:

• “Skidamarink”

• “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake

• “Happy” – Pharrell Williams

• “You Are My Sunshine”

Give kids heart-shaped balloons to dance with for extra fun!

8. Love and Kindness Countdown

In the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, create a “Kindness Countdown” where kids do one act of kindness each day. Ideas include:

• Giving a compliment to a friend

• Helping clean up

• Sharing a toy

• Making a card for a teacher

9. Valentine’s Day Photo Booth

Set up a cute photo backdrop with heart garlands, pink and red balloons, and fun props like heart glasses or feather boas. Take pictures of the kids and send them home as a sweet keepsake for families.

10. Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt

Hide paper hearts or small Valentine’s-themed items around the room for a fun scavenger hunt! Give kids clues or let them explore freely to find the hidden.


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