
Every day after school, The Kids come home and ask to do crafts. Correction. Even before they went to school, The Kids would ask to do crafts every single day.
Being the good Mom that I am, of course I agreed. I mean, crafts are beneficial for brain development, creativity and other good stuff (I’m sure). But, best of all, they’re great at keeping The Kids busy while I try and get things done.
A friend recently told me (and to quote) “The best Moms let them create and be messy. That is how you learn and try things out of the box or container!” To which I responded (and I quote) “I am not the best Mom”.
Crafts around here are an organized affair. Very organized. No paint, minimal glue, no sparkles. You know, everything that makes crafting FUN! For a Mom. So, when Cathy at Cathy Thinking Out Loud came up with some (This) Mom Friendly Valentines Day Crafts for Kids, I decided to give them a try.
The best part is that when she actually told me that I would have all the tools at hand to get the job done, she was right! In case you’ve forgotten, we are currently living in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. If we can do it, you can do!
Valentines Day Fortune Teller
Remember this oldie but goldie from your youth. Except, instead of animals and numbers, you’d put the names of four boys you liked in the centre and then see who you’d marry. Twenty-three times in a row. No? Me neither…
Anyways, it’s pretty simple to make.
- Print out the template.
- Fold it.*
- Play.
If you can’t remember how to play, get someone to pick an animal or number and alternate pinching and pulling the tabs to reveal inner tabs. Do it a few times and then expose one of the inner tabs to reveal the persons fortune. Magic!
The Kids found the most joy in colouring the paper, naming the animals/numbers and working the paper back and forth. Really good for fine motor skills.
*Note that if you fold it and then wonder what you’ve done wrong because you can’t see your boyfriends name any of the animals or number, flatten the paper out, turn it over and start again. If this happens to you both times then we are related.
Valentines Day Finger Puppets
The Kids really got into this craft because it involved glue. Not just any glue but glue that came in special little plastic containers with caps that when turned oozed out white, sticky, probably toxic (although it said not) goo all over everything.
Let me segway.
The Kids wanted paint. I despise paint. Don’t even bother telling me that it’s water soluble and will come off with a damp cloth because it doesn’t. At least not on anything that I’ve ever tried to get it out of. So, we headed off to one of the three Paperlias (stationery stores) that’s within spitting distance of our house (I am not exaggerating by one store or the spitting distance) to reluctantly buy paint. And then I saw them. And then they saw them. And then we left without paint. Except we left with two containers of things that oozed glue. Where was I? Oh ya, the craft.
This one has a few more steps but I’m sure you can handle it.
- Print out the template (although technically, you could just freehand it).
- Cut out the hearts (the kids can help you if you let them use scissors, we do!).
- Trace and cut out the hearts on cardboard. Use a hold punch (which we had!?) to cut out the finger holes.
- Let the kids decorate and/or colour them.
- Let the Play begin.
The Kids had a blast with these and played with them all day. They even decided to put on a play for Ed and I although, I’m not sure if they even know what a play is. I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Have Any Easy Valentines Day Crafts for Kids of Your Own?
Please feel free to leave the link to any of your crafts below. We’d love to see what you’re up to.
I used to love those fortune teller games when I was younger! Another craft I like for Valentine’s Day is making faces on construction paper hearts and giving them construction paper arms and legs. Simple is still fun!
Emma @ P is for Preschooler recently posted…Polar Animals – Weekly Kids Co-op
You? Doing a craft post? Thanks Cathy! 😉
But really, l love it – I had forgotten all about the fortune teller!
Adorable ideas for kids! I know my kids would love to try it 🙂 Thanks for the idea!
Brandi recently posted…Heart Health Month – Shoppers Drug Mart Heart Age Calculator #TreatYourHeart
SO CUTE! i love the Valentines Day Fortune Teller. takes me back lol
Wait what? You? Crafts? Must be something in the water in Mexico.
I remember those little paper fortune things very very well! Man that brings back memories.
Love the puppet show! Hi Max and Artemis!!!!
Mommy Outside recently posted…Heart Health Month – Learn How to #TreatYourHeart
I am planning to make valentine crayon holders out of old (clean) cans, construction paper, and stickers.
I remember making those fortune teller crafts as a kid! =D
Stephanie LaPlante recently posted…FunDayMental Friday
These are all great ideas! I used to make the fortune teller ones myself as a child!
These are some great ideas I can use to keep my little nephews busy for a few hours! Love the fortune teller idea, remember it from my childhood! thanks
Interesting ideas!
loved it pinned it going to get supplies to do them adorable thanks for the post
Thanks for the great ideas! I’m going to print the fortune teller template, my daughter will be excited to make it when she gets home from school today. 🙂
Jenn G recently posted…CONTESTS – Ending Soon! Get Your Entries In!
This is an awesome activity. I remember doing similar things when I was in school. Thanks for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday. Pinned to our group board.
Kristen B recently posted…Carrot Molasses Muffin Recipe
Oh my goodness! I totally forgot about the fortune teller game! It brings back memories. THese are great ideas btw!
Those are so fun! My daughter would love to make all of the above! FUN!
Christine recently posted…Heart Beet Salad
Great ideas! Love the Valentines Day Fortune Teller!
What a cute idea for finger puppets. Especially the painting would be fun!
great ideas! i will have to try some with my kids
Love the finger puppets! They are so cute!
love these craft ideas!!!
these are very creative crafts and my grandson loves making finger puppets
these are very creative crafts – my grandson loves making finger puppets, will make them with him.
I am always looking for ideas like this to have fun with the grandchildren.
Gary Tracey recently posted…Staples Canada Gift Guide Has Tablets, Telescopes and Items for The Kids #Giveaway, CAN, 3/07
My son is just learning about “fortune tellers” so this is great timing ~ thanks!
great ideas to keep the kids happy thanks for sharing
i could have lots of fun with my grandson thanks
what a ideas for kids
The valentines day fortune teller pre-printed template is such a smart idea!
the fortune teller brought back some good memories from public school, we used to have so much fun with them
Cute crafts, thanks for sharing!
I liked the Valentine Day Fortune Teller. This would be excellent for those five and up and keep them busy, with supervision and a little help, while you do other chores about the kitchen . Thank you for this one as It may come in handy for some of my family.
these are fun to make
I remember those fortune tellers! Except, we had numbers on the outside and inside, with a variety of fortunes on the inside. No names of boys or girls at our school…
These are such a fun way to spend some time with the kids.They are cute.
oh my the fortune teller brings back many childhood memories thanks
…yeah, we might be related….
Such cute ideas. Love the Valentines Day Fortune Teller.
Children love making their own valentines. It is great family time.
These would be so fun to do with the kids I nanny!
It is now past Valentine’s Day but the paper Fortune Teller is always a blast… and what a blast from the past! I think I’ll be making one of these for my daughter! Thanks!
I’ve never seen a template for a Fortune Teller before. This Valentine’s Day template would be lots of fun. Thanks for sharing.
those are so cute
how fun, I love that there is a Fortune Teller template!
Cute! Thanks for the templates
Neat, I’ll keep these in mind for next year
What a unique twist on a classic, and thanks for the templates!
Great idea, I’ll have to keep it in mind for my granddaughter, she’d love it!!