I’m so over buying Valentine’s Day cards. Remember those awesome kits from our childhood? Stickers, little trinkets, mini mailboxes… they just don’t make them like they used to! Liam’s school had some very specific instructions this year – part writing practice, part restrictions on what could be brought in. So, when I showed him the store options, and asked him what he wanted to do, he declared, “I want to make my own DIY Valentine cards!” Music to my ears!
Now, as a parent, I’m all about avoiding the influx of tiny, quickly-trashed trinkets. So, a snow day last week turned into a full-on Valentine’s crafting extravaganza! We made Care Bears, paper heart chains, adorable Love Bug cards, and Liam’s school Valentines. We raided the craft bin, Liam unleashed his creativity, and I just followed his lead.
Honestly, it was so little effort on my part! I helped fold and cut the construction paper (two cards per sheet, and we needed 17!), and Liam did the rest. He wrote his message and signed his name in each card, carefully chose a unique sticker for every single one, and then topped them off with some fun paper confetti (from another DIY card craft we did from a few years ago). Super simple, easy to make, used supplies we already had, and it turned out to be the perfect snow day activity.
These DIY Valentine cards weren’t just cute; they were a win-win for everyone. Liam even took his own photos. All the photos in this post, were shot by him!
The Benefits of DIY Valentine Cards:
One of my kids favorite books is the Pout Pout Fish. The Christmas version, The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish is another favorite and has a great message in the end. In that book, the Pout Pout Fish is creating a lot of stress in his life trying to think about what presents to buy his friends. It took visits from all of these stores, and not finding the right gifts, before his Shiny Fish friend (yes, the one who kissed him in the main book) tells him he can make gifts. And, that he doesn’t even have to gift anything. She says, “the best gifts of all come straight from the heart.” It’s such a nice message, and I think one that resonates well with Valentine’s Day.
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For Your Child’s Development: Letting kids create their own Valentine’s Day cards is fantastic for their development. It boosts their fine motor skills (all that cutting, gluing, and writing!), sparks their creativity (choosing colors, stickers, and designs), and even helps with their writing practice (I see you, first grade teachers!). Plus, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride in their creations. Liam was so proud of his finished cards!
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For the Environment: Think of all the store-bought cards that end up in the trash! Making DIY Valentine cards is a much more eco-friendly option. We used recycled construction paper and craft supplies we already had, minimizing waste and teaching Liam about being kind to the planet.
I hope Liam wants to make his own Valentine cards every year because I absolutely love this tradition! It’s so much more meaningful (and fun!) than buying them.
What did your kids do for Valentine’s Day at school this year? Share your creative ideas in the comments below!
