Valentine's Day Crafts and Books for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Despite the cold, grey winter weather, this is the perfect time of year to teach your little one about love! I’ve gathered some fun Valentine’s Day books and crafts for your children this season.

1. The Kissing Hand

In this story, Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school. His mother devises a secret ‘kiss’  he can keep with him all night, to remind him of her.

As homeschooling mothers, our children are home with us, but this is a wonderful book for children facing any kind of new situation or change – preschool, religious education classes, or swim lessons. It’s a reminder of a how a mother’s love follows you, wherever you go.

Making Learning Fun has many activities and printables to go along with The Kissing Hand. My favorite is the Magnet Page. I also found a Kissing Hand activity pack.

2. Love You Forever

This book has been making me cry for 17 years! I had to explain to my oldest daughter why I start to tear up every time I read it. If you’ve got a baby shower coming up, this is a wonderful gift for a new mother.

After you’ve read the story to your little ones, you could whip up some Valentine’s cupcakes, and work on a Valentine Tot Pack.

3. Guess How Much I Love You?

This story is so sweet – between a father and his son. You’ll follow the story of Little Nut Brown Hare and his father, as they profess their love for each other. This is a favorite around my house, especially at bedtime.

Work on fine motor skills with this Valentine heart wreath craft, then practice math and writing skills with another Valentine preschool pack.

4. Mama, Do You Love Me?

Explore the Inuit culture with this wonderful book. Set in Alaska, there are loads of learning opportunities after finishing this book. You’ll read the story of an Alaskan girl and her mother as she tests her independence, yet holds tight to her mother’s love.

Michelle from Musings of Me has a wonderful Alaska packet that compliments this book beautifully.

5. The Giving Tree

We’ve ended up with two copies of this classic in our house – my husband brought his childhood copy with him when he moved in!

Simple pen and ink drawings catch children’s eyes as you tell the story of the tree who gave everything she had. You can discuss your children’s unique, special gifts, then follow it up with some fun from the Love Tot Pack.

6. If I Could Keep You Little

My children range in age from incubating to 17 years old — I’ve seen many phases of growing up. This sweet book reminds us not to be sad about the things we will miss about them being little, but to look forward to the new delights each stage will bring.

Your little love bugs will love these craft ideas from Totally Tots.

7. No Matter What

I seriously read this book twice a week in my house – my kids LOVE it! It follows the same vein as Mama, Do You Love Me — Small tests Large’s love for him through a series of identity changes! The illustrations make my kids crack up every time.

Don’t miss this Love Blossom Tree craft as well as the  preschool ideas from PreKinders.

8. I Love You Through and Through

Your babies and young toddlers will enjoy this board book about a boy and the love he has for his teddy bear.

Keep the love going with these fun Valentine crafts from 2 Teaching Mommies.

9. You’re All My Favorites

If you have more than one child, you understand the worries about loving one more than the others. I ran across this book at Borders while I was pregnant with my twin boys, and sobbed in the children’s section. We all love our children in very different ways, and this book explains this in a language small children can easily grasp.

10. How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

As the mother of boys, dinosaurs are well loved in my house. We’re big fans of all the “How Do Dinosaurs ….” series, and this edition about love is wonderful!

Your boys will enjoy this dinosaur craft, as well as a Love dump truck!

Looking for more Valentine’s Day resources? Head over to the Valentine’s Day Pinterest board.

This post is linked to: Tot School, Sharing Time, Sunday Showcase, Share Your Sunday Best, Homemaking Mondays, Hip Homeschool Hop,Magic Marker Mondays, Top Ten Tuesdays, Ten on Tuesdays, Tip Me Tuesdays, Creative Share,  Works for Me Wednesday, The Mommy Club,Weekly Wrap-up at WUHS, For the Kids Friday, Home and Family Friday, Preschool Corner and Share Your Awesome.

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You can visit Dianna over at The Kennedy Adventures, where she’s incubating Baby 5.0! You’ll find her hosting Saints and Scripture Sunday, as well as frequent appearances on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.